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«EarIg  ffingltdi)  Bramatisti! 


THE      DRAMATIC 
WRITINGS    OF 
RICHARD     EDWARDS 
THOMAS     NORTON 

AND 

THOMAS   SACKVILLE 


A»THE 

TRAGEDIE  OF  GORBODVQ, 
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Tbontds  Hortufte^  SltD  tfeC  ttDD  Udc  1)^ 
>  Thomas  Sackjtyte* 

C&  ftt  fo^e  a^  tfte  tom^  tuaB  C^ttpetj  before  tbe 


Court  of  WWteball,ttoe.jcWfl 
^(w  DOW*.  11  fi.  HBj 
tf  Cfwtntt  Cemptein  i 


<feIMPRYNTED  AT  LONDON 
fn  jflereftcete,  at  tfte  &<gne  of  tlje 


to"  be  fbto  at  trw  £t)o  m 


redttced  facsimile  of  the  title-page  of  the  first  edition 
{unauthorised)  of  "  Gorboduc  "  :  j«  /a^vj  177-8.] 


iSatlg   ISnglisf)   JBramattsts 

/ o  /  •    I  ol 
The 

'Dramatic    Writings 

of 
RICHARD     EDWARDS 

THOMAS   NORTON 

AND 

THOMAS    SACKVILLE 

COMPRISING 

Damon   ana    Plthias — Palamon  and   Arcyte   (Note) — 

Gorboduc   (or   Ferrex   and   Porrex] — Note-Book   and 

Word-List 


EDITED    BY 

JOHN     S.     FARMER 


ILontJoti 

Privately  Printed  for  Subscribers  by  the 

EARLY  ENGLISH  DRAMA  SOCIETY,   18  BURY  STREET 

BLOOMSBURY,  W.C, 

MCMVI 


CONTENTS 

DAMON  AND  PITHIAS,  BY  RICHARD  EDWARDS  .    , 
ARCYTE    (NOTE),    BY    RICHARD 


PALAMON    AND 
EDWARDS 


PACK 

I 


I84 


GORBODUC  (OR  FERREX  AND  PORREX),  BY  THOMAS 
NORTON  AND  THOMAS  SACKVILLE     ....      85 

NOTE-BOOK  AND  WORD-LIST 155 


$1  :The'cxcei]cntGbme(ite.of 

fctwo  the  cnofte  faithfulkll :  M: 


ji.tliijauc  occafloH  to  plaujit  ^  titter  in 


mrintcc! 


[Reduced  Facsimile  of  Title-page  of  "  Damon  and 
Pithias,"  by  Richard  Edwards  from  a  copy  now  in  the 
British  Museum.] 


ED. 


Cije 

ARISTIPPUS,  A  PLEASANT  GENTLEMAN 
CARISOPHUS,  A  PARASITE 

DAMON  "| 

>  Two  GENTLEMEN  OF  GREECE 
PITHIAS  J 

STEPHANO,  SERVANT  TO  DAMON  AND  PITHIAS 
WILL,  ARISTIPPUS'  LACKEY 
JACK,  CARISOPHUS'  LACKEY 
SNAP,  THE  PORTER 

DlONYSIUS,   THE    KlNG 

EUBULUS,   THE    KlNG's    COUNCILLOR 

GRONNO,  THE  HANGMAN 
GRIM,  THE  COLLIER 


DAMON    AND    PITHIAS 

THE    PROLOGUE. 

ON  every  side,  whereas  I  glance  my  roving  eye, 
Silence  in  all  ears  bent  I  plainly  do  espy  :  [see, 
But  if  your  eager  looks  do  long  such  toys  to 
As  heretofore  in  comical  wise  were  wont  abroad 

to  be,  [you  sought 

Your  lust  is  lost,  and  all  the  pleasures  that 
Is  frustrate  quite  of  toying  plays.  A  sudden 

change  is  wrought :  [delight, 

For  lo,  our  author's  muse,  that  masked  in 
Hath  forc'd  his  pen  against  his  kind  no  more 

such  sports  to  write. 
Muse  he  that  lust  (right  worshipful),  for  chance 

hath  made  this  change, 
For  that  to  some  he  seemed  too  much  in  young 

desires  to  range  :  [did  offend, 

In  which,  right  glad  to  please,  seeing  that  he 
Of  all  he  humbly  pardon  craves  :  his  pen  that 

shall  amend.  [dare  avouch, 

And  yet  (worshipful  audience)  thus  much  I 
In  comedies  the  greatest  skill  is  this,  rightly  to 

touch  [person  so, 

All  things  to  the  quick ;  and  eke  to  frame  each 
That  by  his  common  talk  you  may  his  nature 

rightly  know. 
A    roister   ought   not   preach,    thai   were   too 

strange  to  hear; 

B  2 


4  Damon  and  Pithias 

But  as  from  virtue  he  doth  swerve,  so  ought 

his  words  appear : 
The  old  man  is  sober,  the  young  man  rash,  the 

lover  triumphing  in  toys ; 
The  matron  grave,   the  harlot  wild,   and   full 

of  wanton  toys. 

Which  all  in  one  course  they  no  wise  do  agree ; 
So  correspondent  to  their  kind  their  speeches 

ought  to  be.  [lively  framed, 

Which   speeches  well-pronounc'd,   with  action 
If  this  offend  the  lookers  on,  let  Horace  then 

be  blamed, 
Which  hath  our  author  taught  at  school,  from 

whom  he  doth  not  swerve, 
In  all  such  kind  of  exercise  decorum  to  observe. 
Thus  much  for  his  defence  (he  saith),  as  poets 

erst  have  done, 
Which   heretofore   in   comedies   the   self-same 

race  did  run. 

But  now  for  to  be  brief,  the  matter  to  express, 
Which  here  we  shall  present,  is  this  :  Damon 

and  Pithias.  [legend-lie, 

A  rare  ensample  of  friendship  true — it  is  no 
But  a  thing  once  done  indeed,  as  histories  do 

descry — 
Which  done  of  yore   in   long   time   past,   yet 

present  shall  be  here, 
Even  as  it  were  in  doing  now,  so  lively  it  shall 

appear. 
Lo,  here  in  Syracuse  th'  ancient  town,  which 

once  the  Romans  won, 
Here  Dionysius'  palace,  within  whose  court  this 

thing  most  strange  was  done. 
Which   matter   mix'd  with   mirth   and  care,   a 

just  name  to  apply,  [comedy. 

As  seems  most  fit,  we  have  it  termed  a  tragical 


Damon  and  Pithias  5 

Wherein  talking  of  courtly  toys — we  do  protest 

this  flat !—  [but  that. 

We  talk  of  Dionysius*  court,  we  mean  no  court 
And  that  we  do  so  mean,  who  wisely  calleth  to 

mind 
The  time,   the  place,   the  authors,  here  most 

plainly  shall  it  find. 
Lo,  this  I  speak  for  our  defence,  lest  of  others 

we  should  be  shent : 
But,  worthy  audience,  we  you  pray,  take  things 

as  they  be  meant ; 
Whose   upright   judgment   we   do  crave  with 

heedful  ear  and  eye 
To  hear  the  cause  and  see  th'  effect  of  this  new 

tragical  comedy.  [Exit. 

[Here  entereth  Aristippus. 
Arist.     Tho'   strange  (perhaps)  it  seems  to 

some 

That  I,  Aristippus,  a  courtier  am  become : 
A  philosopher  of  late,  not  of  the  meanest  name, 
But  now  to  the  courtly  behaviour  my  life   I 

frame. 

Muse  he  that  list ;  to  you  of  good  skill 
I  say  that  I  am  a  philosopher  still. 
Lovers  of  wisdom  are  termed  philosophy — 
Then  who  is  a  philosopher  so  rightly  as  I  ? 
For  in  loving  of  wisdom  proof  doth  this  try, 
That  frustra  sapit,  qui  non  sapit  sibi. 
I  am  wise  for  myself :  then  tell  me  of  troth, 
Is  not  that  great  wisdom,  as  the  world  go'th? 
Some  philosophers  in  the  street  go  ragged  and 

torn,  [scorn  : 

And  feed  on  vile  roots,  whom  boys  laugh  to 
But  I  in  fine  silks  haunt  Dionysius'  palace, 
Wherein  with  dainty  fare  myself  I  do  solace. 


6  Damon  and  Pithias 

I  can  talk  of  philosophy  as  well  as  the  best, 
But  the  strait  kind  of  life  I  leave  to  the  rest. 
And  I  profess  now  the  courtly  philosophy, 
To  crouch,  to  speak  fair,  myself  I  apply 
To  feed  the  king's  humour  with  pleasant  de- 
For  which  I  am  called  Regius  cam's.         [vices, 
But  wot  ye  who  named  me  first  the  king's  dog? 
It  was  the  rogue  Diogenes,  that  vile  grunting 

hog. 

Let  him  roll  in  his  tub,  to  win  a  vain  praise  : 
In   the  court   pleasantly   I   will  spend   all   my 
Wherein  what  to  do  I  am  not  to  learn,     [days  ; 
What  will  serve  mine  own  turn  I  can  quickly 

discern. 

All  my  time  at  school  I  have  not  spent  vainly, 
I  can  help  one  :   is  not  that  a  good  point  of 

philosophy  ? 

Here  entereth  Carisophus. 
Cans.     I  beshrew  your  fine  ears,  since  you 

came  from  school,  [fool : 

In  the  court  you  have  made  many  a  wise  man  a 
And  though  you  paint  out  your  feigned  philo 
sophy, 

So  God  help  me,  it  is  but  a  plain  kind  of  flattery, 
Which  you  use  so  finely  in  so  pleasant  a  sort, 
That  none  but  Aristippus  now  makes  the  king 

sport. 

Ere  you  came  hither,  poor  I  was  somebody ; 
The  king  delighted   in  me,   now   I   am  but  a 

noddy.  [self  best, 

Arist.     In  faith,  Carisophus,  you  know  your- 

But  I  will  not  call  you  noddy,  but  only  in  jest. 

And  thus  I  assure  you,  though  I  came  from 

school  [king's  fool; 

To  serve  in  this  court,  I  came  not  yet  to  be  the 
Or  to  fill  his  ears  with  servile  squirrility. 


Damon  and  Pithias  7 

That  office  is  yours,  you  know  it  right  per 
fectly. 
Of  parasites  and  sycophants  you  are  a  grave 

bencher, 
The    king    feeds    you    often    from    his    own 

trencher.  [favour — 

I    envy   not   your  state,    nor   yet   your   great 
Then  grudge  not  at  all,  if  in  my  behaviour 
I  make  the  king  merry  with  pleasant  urbanity, 
Whom  I  never  abused  to  any  man's  injury. 
Caris.     By  Cock,  sir,  yet  in  the  court  you 

do  best  thrive, 

For  you  get  more  in  one  day  than  I  do  in  five. 
Arist.     Why,  man,  in  the  court  do  you  not 

see 

Rewards  given  for  virtue  to  every  degree? 
To  reward  the  unworthy — that  world  is  done  : 
The  court  is  changed,  a  good  thread  hath  been 

spun  [was  liked, 

Of  dog's  wool  heretofore;  and  why?  because  it 
And  not  for  that  it  was  best  trimmed  and 

picked  : 
But  now  men's  ears  are  finer,  such  gross  toys 

are  not  set  by ;  [appty  : 

Therefore  to  a  trimmer  kind  of  mirth  myself  I 
Wherein  though  I  please,  it  cometh  not  of  my 
But  of  the  king's  favour.  [desert, 

Caris.  It  may  so  be ;  yet  in  your  prosperity 
Despise  not  an  old  courtier :  Carisophus  is  he, 
Which  hath  long  time  fed  Dionysius'  humour  : 
Diligently  to  please  still  at  hand  :  there  was 

never  rumour 

Spread  in  this  town  of  any  small  thing,  but  I 
Brought  it  to  the  king  in  post  by  and  by. 
Yet  now  I  crave  your  friendship,   which  if  I 

may  attain, 


8  Damon  and  Pithias 

Most  sure  and  unfeigned  friendship  I  promise 

you  again  : 
So   we   two  link'd   in   friendship,    brother   and 

brother, 

Full  well  in  the  court  may  help  one  another. 
Arist.     By'r  Lady,  Carisophus,   though  you 

know  not  philosophy, 

Yet  surely  you  are  a  better  courtier  than  I  : 
And  yet  I  not  so  evil  a  courtier,  that  will  seem 
to  despise  [wise. 

Such  an  old  courtier  as  you,  so  expert  and  so 
But  where  as  you  crave  mine,  and  offer  your 
friendship  so  willingly,  [courtesy  : 

With  heart  I  give  you  thanks  for  this  your  great 
Assuring  of  friendship  both  with  tooth  and  nail, 
Whiles  life  lasteth,  never  to  fail. 

Caris.     A  thousand   thanks    I   give   you,   O 

friend  Aristippus. 
Arist.     O  friend  Carisophus. 
Caris.     How   joyful   am    I,    sith    I    have   to 

friend  Aristippus  now  ! 

Arist.     None  so  glad  of  Carisophus'  friend 
ship  as  I,  I  make  God  a  vow. 
I  speak  as  I  think,  believe  me. 

Caris.     Sith  we  are  now  so  friendly  joined, 

it  seemeth  to  me 

That  one  of  us  help  each  other  in  every  degree  : 
Prefer  you  my  cause,  when  you  are  in  presence, 
To  further  your  matters  to  the  king  let  me 

alone  in  your  absence. 
Arist.     Friend  Carisophus,  this  shall  be  done 

as  you  would  wish  : 

But  I  pray  you  tell  me  thus  much  by  the  way, 
Whither   now   from    this   place   will   you   take 
your  journey?  [against  friendship. 

Caris.     I     will    not     dissemble ;    that     were 


Damon  and  Pithias  9 

I  go  into  the  city  some  knaves  to  nip 

For    talk,    with    their   goods    to    increase   the 

king's  treasure — 

In  such  kind  of  service  I  set  my  chief  pleasure  : 
Farewell,  friend  Aristippus,  now  for  a  time. 

Exit. 
Arist.     Adieu,    friend   Carisophus — In   good 

faith  now, 

Of  force  I  must  laugh  at  this  solemn  vow. 
Is   Aristippus   link'd   in   friendship   with   Cari 
sophus? 

Quid  cum  tanto  asino  talis  philosophus? 
They  say,  Morum  similitudo  consult  amicitias ; 
Then  how  can  this  friendship  between  us  two 

come  to  pass  ? 
We  are  as  like  in  condition  as  Jack  Fletcher 

and  his  bolt ; 

I  brought  up  in  learning,  but  he  is  a  very  dolt 
As  touching  good  letters ;  but  otherwise  such  a 

crafty  knave,  [have : 

If  you  seek  a  whole  region,  his  like  you  cannot 
A  villain  for  his  life,  a  varlet  dyed  in  grain, 
You  lose  money  by  him  if  you  sell  him  for  one 

knave,  for  he  serves  for  twain  : 
A  flattering  parasite,  a  sycophant  also,         [foe. 
A  common  accuser  of  men,  to  the  good  an  open 
Of  half  a  word  he  can  make  a  legend  of  lies, 
Which  he  will  avouch  with  such  tragical  cries, 
As  though  all  were  true  that  comes  out  of  his 

mouth. 

Where[as],  indeed,  to  be  hanged  by  and  by, 
He  cannot  tell  one  tale  but  twice  he  must  lie. 
He  spareth   no   man's  life  to  get  the  king's 

favour,  [savour 

In  which  kind  of  service  he  hath  got  such  a 
That  he  will  never  leave.     Methink  then  that  I 


io  Damon  and  Pithias 

Have  done  very  wisely  to  join  in  friendship  with 

him,  lest  perhaps  I 
Coming  in  his  way  might  be  nipp'd ;  for  such 

knaves  in  presence 

We  see  ofttimes  put  honest  men  to  silence : 
Yet  I  have  played  with  his  beard  in  knitting 

this  knot :  [words — 

I     promis'd    friendship;    but — you    love    few 
I  spake  it,  but  I  meant  it  not. 
Who  marks  this  friendship  between  us  two 
Shall  judge  of  the  worldly  friendship  without 

any  more  ado. 
It  may  be  a  right  pattern  thereof;   but  true 

friendship  indeed 

Of  nought  but  of  virtue  doth  truly  proceed. 
But  why  do  I  now  enter  into  philosophy 
Which  do  profess  the  fine  kind  of  courtesy  ? 
I  will  hence  to  the  court  with  all  haste  I  may ; 
I  thinlc  the  king  be  stirring,  it  is  now  bright 
To  wait  at  a  pinch  still  in  sight  I  mean,     [day. 
For  wot  ye  what?  a  new  broom  sweeps  clean. 
As  to  high  honour  I  mind  not  to  climb, 
So  I  mean  in  the  court  to  lose  no  time : 
Wherein,  happy  man  be  his  dole,  I  trust  that  I 
Shall  not  speed  worst,  and  that  very  quickly. 

Exit. 
Here  entereth  Damon  and  Pithias  like 

manners. 
Damon.     O     Neptune,     immortal     be     thy 

praise,  [seas 

For  that  so  safe  from  Greece  we  have  pass  'd  the 
To  this  noble  city  Syracuse,  where  we 
The  ancient  reign  of  the  Romans  may  see. 
Whose  force  Greece  also  heretofore  hath  known, 
Whose  virtue  the  shrill  trump  of  fame  so  far 

hath  blown. 


Damon  and  Pithias  n 

Pithias.     My  Damon,  of  right  high  praise  we 

ought  to  give  [arrive  : 

To  Neptune  and  all  the  gods,  that  we  safely  did 

The  seas,  I  think,  with  contrary  winds  never 

raged  so ; 

I  am  even  yet  so  seasick  that  I  faint  as  I  go ; 
Therefore  let  us  get  some  lodging  quickly. 
But  where  is  Stephano? 

Here  entereth  Stephano. 
Stephano.     Not  far  hence :  a  pox  take  these 

mariner-knaves ; 
Not  one  would  help  me  to  carry  this  stuff ;  such 

drunken  slaves 

I  think  be  accursed  of  the  gods'  own  mouths. 
Damon.     Stephano,  leave  thy  raging,  and  let 

us  enter  Syracuse, 
We  will   provide  lodging,   and  thou  shalt  be 

eased  of  thy  burden  by  and  by. 
Stephano.     Good  master,  make  haste,  for  I 
tell  you  plain  [pain. 

This  heavy  burden  puts  poor  Stephano  to  much 
Pithias.     Come  on  thy  ways,  thou  shalt  be 
eased,   and   that   anon.  Exeunt. 

Here  entereth  Carisophus. 
Carts.     It  is  a  true  saying,  that  oft  hath  been 

spoken, 

The  pitcher  goeth  so  long  to  the  water  that  he 

cometh  home  broken.  [sith  I 

My  own  proof  this  hath  taught  me,  for  truth, 

In  the  city  have  used  to  walk  very  slyly, 

Not  with  one  can  I  meet,  that  will  in  talk  join 

with  me,  [to  snatch, 

And  to  creep  into  men's  bosoms,  some  talk  for 

But   which,    into   one   trip  or   other,    I    might 

trimly  them  catch,  [meet 

And  so  accuse  them — now,  not  with  one  can  I 


12  Damon  and  Pithias 

That  will  join  in  talk  with  me,  I  am  shunn'd 

like  a  devil  in  the  street. 
My  credit  is  crack 'd  where  I  am  known;  but, 

yet  I  hear  say,  [Prey? 

Certain  strangers  are  arrived  :  they  were  a  good 
If  happily  I  might  meet  with  them,  I  fear  not, 

I,  [finely. 

But  in  talk  I  should  trip  them,  and  that  very 
Which  thing,  I  assure  you,  I  do  for  mine  own 

gain, 
Or  else  I  would  not  plod  thus  up  and  down,  I 

tell  you  plain. 

Well,  I  will  for  a  while  to  the  court,  to  see 
What   Aristippus    doth ;    I    would    be    loth    in 

favour  he  should  overrun  me ; 
He  is  a  subtle  child,  he  flattereth  so  finely,  that 

I  fear  me 
He  will  lick  all  the  fat  from  my  lips,  and  so 

outweary  me. 
Therefore   I   will  not  be  long   absent,   but  at 

hand, 
That  all  his  fine  drifts  I  may  understand. 

Exit. 

Here  entereth  Will  and  Jack. 
Will.     I  wonder  what  my  master  Aristippus 

means  now-a-days, 

That  he  leaveth  philosophy,  and  seeks  to  please 
King  Dionysius  with  such  merry  toys  : 
In  Dionysius'  court  now  he  only  joys, 
As  trim  a  courtier  as  the  best,  [jest ; 

Ready  to  answer,  quick  in  taunts,  pleasant  to 
A  lusty  companion  to  devise  with  fine  dames, 
Whose  humour  to  feed  his  wily  wit  he  frames. 
Jack.     By  Cock,  as  you  say,  your  master  is 

a  minion  :  [alone 

A  foul  coil  he  keeps  in  this  court;  Aristippus 


Damon  and  Pithias  13 

Now  rules  the  roasts  with  his  pleasant  devices, 
That  I  fear  he  will  put  out  of  conceit  my  master 

Carisophus.  [and  brother, 

Will.     Fear  not  that,  Jack ;  for,  like  brother 

They  are  knit  in  true  friendship  the  one  with 

the  other ;  [both, 

They  are  fellows,  you  know,  and  honest  men 
Therefore  the  one  to  hinder  the  other  they  will 

be  loth. 
Jack.     Yea,  but  I  have  heard  say  there  is 

falsehood  in  fellowship,  [the  slip  : 

In  the  court  sometimes  one  gives  another  finely 
Which  when  it  is  spied,  it  is  laugh 'd  out  with 

a  scoff,  [off : 

And  with  sporting  and  playing  quietly  shaken 
In  which  kind  of  toying  thy  master  hath  such 

a  grace,  [face. 

That  he  will  never  blush,  he  hath  a  wooden 
But,  Will,  my  master  hath  bees  in  his  head ; 
If  he  find  me  here  prating  I  am  but  dead. 
He  is  still  trotting  in  the  city,  there  is  some 
what  in  the  wind ; 

His  looks  bewray  his  inward  troubled  jnind. 
Therefore  I  will  be  packing  to  the  court  by  and 

by ;  [pie  ! 

If  he  be  once  angry,  Jack  shall  cry,  woe  the 

Will.     By'r  Lady,   if  I   tarry  long  here,  of 

the  same  sauce  shall  I  taste, 
For  my  master  sent  me  on  an  errand,  and  bade 

me  make  haste; 

Therefore  we  will  depart  together.    [Exeunt. 
Here  entereth  Stephano. 
Steph.     Ofttimes    I    have    heard,   before    I 

came  hither, 

That  no  man  can  serve  two  masters  together; 
A  sentence  so  true,  as  most  men  do  take  it, 


14  Damon  and  Pithias 

At  any  time  false  that  no  man  can  make  it : 
And    yet    by    their    leave,    that    first    have    it 

spoken,  [open : 

How  that  may  prove  false,   even  here  I  will 
For  I,  Stephano,  lo,  so  named  by  my  father, 
At  this  time  serve  two  masters  together, 
And  love  them  alike :  the  one  and  the  other 
I  duly  obey,  I  can  do  no  other. 
A  bondman  I  am,  so  nature  hath  wrought  me, 
One  Damon  of  Greece,  a  gentleman,  bought 

me. 

To  him  I  stand  bound,  yet  serve  I  another, 
Whom  Damon  my  master  loves  as  his  own 

brother : 

A  gentleman  too,  and  Pithias  he  is  named, 
Fraught  with  virtue,  whom  vice  never  defamed. 
These  two,  since  at  school  they  fell  acquainted, 
In  mutual  friendship  at  no  time  have  fainted. 
But  loved  so  kindly  and  friendly  each  other, 
As  though  they  were  brothers  by  father  and 

mother. 

Pythagoras'  learning  these  two  have  embraced, 
Which  both  are  in  virtue  so  narrowly  laced, 
That  all  their  whole  doings  do  fall  to  this  issue, 
To  have  no  respect  but  only  to  virtue : 
All  one  in  effect,  all  one  in  their  going, 
All  one  in  their  study,  all  one  in  their  doing. 
These  gentlemen  both,  being  of  one  condition, 
Both  alike  of  my  service  have  all  the  fruition  : 
Pithias  is  joyful,  if  Damon  be  pleased  : 
If  Pithias  be  served,  then  Damon  is  eased. 
Serve  one,  serve  both  (so  near),   who  would 

win  them  : 

I  think  they  have  but  one  heart  between  them. 
In  travelling  countries  we  three  have  contrived 
Full  many  a  year,  and  this  day  arrived 


Damon  and  Pithias  15 

At  Syracuse  in  Sicilia,  that  ancient  town, 
Where  my  masters  are  lodged;  and  I  up  and 

down  [mg» 

Go  seeking  to  learn  what  news  here  are  walk- 
To  hark  of  what  things  the  people  are  talking. 
I  like  not  this  soil,  for  as  I  go  plodding, 
I   mark   there   two,    there   three,   their   heads 

always  nodding, 

In  close  secret  wise,  still  whispering  together. 
If  I  ask  any  question,  no  man  doth  answer : 
But  shaking  their  heads,  they  go  their  ways 

speaking ;  [ing  : 

I  mark  how  with  tears  their  wet  eyes  are  leak- 
Some  strangeness  there  is,  that  breedeth  this 

musing.  [using, 

Well,  I  will  to  my  masters,  and  tell  of  their 
That  they  may  learn,  and  walk  wisely  together  : 
I  fear  we  shall  curse  the  time  we  came  hither. 

Exit. 

Here  enter eth  Aristippus  and  Will. 
Aristippus.     Will,  didst  thou  hear  the  ladies 

so  talk  of  me? 
What   aileth   them?   from   their   nips   shall    I 

never  be  free? 
Will.     Good  faith,  sir,  all  the  ladies  in  the 

court  do  plainly  report  [no  sport : 

That  without  mention  of  them  you  can  make 
They  are  your  plain-song  to  sing  descant  upon ; 
If  they  were  not,  your  mirth  were  gone. 
Therefore,  master,  jest  no  more  with  women  in 

any  wise;  [price. 

If  you  do,  by  Cock,  you  are  like  to  know  the 

Aristippus.     By'r  Lady,   Will,   this  is  good 

counsel :  plainly  to  jest 
Of  women   proof  hath   taught  me  is  not   the 

best: 


i6 


Damon  and  Pithias 


I  will  change  my  copy,  howbeit  I  care  not  a 

quinch ; 

I  know  the  gall'd  horse  will  soonest  winch  : 
But  learn  thou  secretly  what  privily  they  talk 
Of  me  in  the  court :  among  them  slyly  walk, 
And  bring  me  true  news  thereof. 

Will.     I    will   sir,    master   thereof   have   no 

doubt,  for  I  [fectly. 

Where  they  talk  of  you  will  inform  you  per- 

Aristippus.     Do  so,  my  boy  :   if  thou  bring 

it  finely  to  pass, 
For  thy  good  service  thou  shalt  go  in  thine  old 

coat  at  Christmas.  Exeunt. 

Enter  Damon,  Pithias,  Stephano. 
Damon.     Stephano,  is  all  this  true  that  thou 

hast  told  me? 
Steph.     Sir,  for  lies  hitherto  ye  never  con- 

troll'd  me. 

O,  that  we  had  never  set  foot  on  this  land, 
Where  Dionysius  reigns  with  so  bloody  a  hand  ! 
Every  day  he  showeth  some  token  of  cruelty, 
With  blood  he  hath  filled  all  the  streets  in  the 

city  : 

I  tremble  to  hear  the  people's  murmuring, 
I  lament  to  see  his  most  cruel  dealing  : 
I  think  there  is  no  such  tyrant  under  the  sun. 
O,  my  dear  masters,  this  morning  what  hath 

he  done  ! 

Damon.     What  is  that?  tell  us  quickly. 
Steph.     As    I    this    morning    pass'd    in    the 

street, 
With  a  woful  man  (going  to  his  death)  did  I 

meet. 

Many  people  followed,  and  I  of  one  secretly 
Asked  the  cause,  why  he  was  condemned   to 

die. 


Damon  and  Pithias  17 

[Who]  whispered  in  mine  ear,  nought  hath  he 

done  but  thus,  [nysius  : 

In  his   sleep  he  dreamed  he  had   killed   Dio- 
Which  dream  told  abroad,  was  brought  to  the 

king  in  post,  [hath  lost. 

By  whom,  condemned  for  suspicion,  his  life  he 
Marcia  was  his  name,  as  the  people  said. 
Pithias.     My  dear   friend   Damon,   I   blame 

not  Stephano  [is  so, 

For  wishing  we  had  not  come  hither,  seeing  it 
That  for  so  small  cause  such  cruel  death  doth 

ensue. 
Damon.     My  Pithias,  where  tyrants   reign, 

such  cases  are  not  new, 

Which  fearing  their  own  state  for  great  cruelty, 
To  sit  fast  as  they  think,  do  execute  speedily 
All  such  as  any  light  suspicion  have  tainted. 
Steph.   (aside).     With  such  quick  carvers   I 

list  not  be  acquainted. 
Damon.     So  are  they  never  in  quiet,  but  in 

suspicion  still, 
When  one  is  made  away,  they  take  occasion 

another  to  kill : 
Ever  in  fear,  having  no  trusty  friend,  void  of 

all  peoples'  love,  [they  prove. 

And  in  their  own  conscience  a  continual  hell 

Pithias.     As   things   by  their  contraries   are 

always  best  proved, 
How  happy  are  then  merciful  princes,  of  their 

people  beloved  ! 
Having  sure  friends  everywhere,  no  fear  doth 

touch  them  : 
They  may  safely  spend  the  day  pleasantly,  at 

night  secur^  dormiunt  in  utramque  aurem. 
O  my   Damon,   if  choice  were  offered   me,   I 

would  choose  to  be  Pithias, 
ED.  c 


i8 


Damon  and  Pithias 


As  I  am  (Damon's  friend)  rather  than  to  be 

King  Dionysius. 
Steph.     And  good  cause  why;  for  you  are 

entirely  beloved  of  one,  [none. 

And  as  far  as  I  hear,  Dionysius  is  beloved  of 

Damon.     That    state     is    most    miserable; 

thrice  happy  are  we, 

Whom  true  love  hath  joined  in  perfect  amity  : 
Which   amity   first  sprung — without  vaunting 

be  it  spoken,  that  is  true — 
Of  likeness  of  manners,  took  root  by  company, 

and  now  is  conserved  by  virtue; 
Which  virtue  always  through  worldly  things  do 

not  frame, 
Yet  doth  she  achieve  to  her  followers  immortal 

fame :  [only, 

Whereof  if  men  were  careful  for  virtue's  sake 
They   would   honour   friendship,    and   not   for 

commodity. 

But  such  as  for  profit  in  friendship  do  link, 
When   storms  come,    they   slide   away  sooner 

than  a  man  will  think.  [issue, 

My  Pithias,  the  sum  of  my  talk  falls  to  this 
To  prove  no  friendship  is  sure,  but  that  which 

is  grounded  on  virtue. 
Pithias.     My    Damon,    of    this    thing    there 

needs  no  proof  to  me, 
The  gods  forbid,  but  that  Pithias  with  Damon 

in  all  things  should  agree. 
For  why  is  it  said,  Amicus  alter  ipse, 
But  that  true  friends  should  be  two  in  body, 

but  one  in  mind?  [against  kind 

As    it  were   transformed   into   another,   which 
Though  it  seem,  yet  in  good  faith,  when  I  am 

alone, 
I  forget  I  am  Pithias,  methinks  I  am  Damon. 


Damon  and  Pithias  19 

Steph.     That   could    I   never   do,   to  forget 
myself;  full  well  I  know, 

Wheresoever  I  go,  that  I  am  pauper  Stephano  : 

But  I  pray  you,  sir,  for  all  your  philosophy, 

See  that  in  this  court  you  walk  very  wisely. 

You     are     but     newly     come     hither;     being 
strangers,  ye  know  [go  : 

Many  eyes  are  bent  on  you  in  the  streets  as  ye 

Many  spies  are  abroad,  you  can  not  be  too  cir 
cumspect. 

Damon.     Stephano,  because  thou  art  careful 
of  me,  thy  master,  I  do  thee  praise: 

Yet  think  this  for  a  surety  :  no  state  to  dis 
please 

By  talk  or  otherwise  my  friend  and  I  intend  : 
we  will  here, 

As  men  that  come  to  see  the  soil  and  manners 
of  all  men  of  every  degree.  [stage, 

Pythagoras  said,   that  this  world  was  like  a 

Whereon  many  play  their  parts  :  the  lookers- 
on,  the  sage. 

Philosophers  are,  saith  he,   whose  part  is  to 
learn 

The  manners  of  all  nations,  and  the  good  from 

the  bad  to  discern. 

Steph.     Good     faith,     sir,     concerning     the 
people  they  are  not  gay, 

And  as  far  as  I  see,   they  be  mummers ;  for 
nought  they  say, 

For  the  most  part,  whatsoever  you  ask  them. 

The  soil  is  such,  that  to  live  here  I  cannot  like. 

Damon.     Thou    speakest    according    to    thy 

learning,  but  I  say,  [everywhere; 

Omne  solum  forti  patria,  a  wise  man  may  live 

Therefore,  my  dear  friend  Pithias, 

Let  us  view  this  town  in  every  place, 

C    2 


20 


Damon  and  Pithias 


And  then  consider  the  people's  manners  also. 

Pithias.     As  you  will,  my  Damon;  but  how 

say  you,  Stephano?  [repast? 

Is  it  not  best,  ere  we  go  further,  to  take  some 

Steph.     In  faith,   I  like  well  this  question, 

sir :   for  all  your  haste, 

To  eat  somewhat  I  pray  you  think  it  no  folly ; 
It  is  high  dinner  time,  I  know  by  my  belly. 
Damon.     Then  let  us  to  our  lodging  depart : 

when  dinner  is  done, 
We  will  view  this  city  as  we  have  begun. 

Exeunt. 

Here  entereth  Carisophus. 
Can's.     Once  again  in  hope  of  good  wind, 

I  hoise  up  my  sail, 

I  go  into  the  city  to  find  some  prey  for  mine 

avail :  [lately 

I  hunger  while  I  may  see  these  strangers  that 

Arrived  :  I  were  safe,  if  once  I  might  meet  them 

happily. 

Let  them  bark  that  lust  at  this  kind  of  gain, 
He  is  a  fool  that  for  his  profit  will  not  pain  : 
Though  it  be  joined  with  other  men's  hurt,  I 

care  not  at  all : 
For  profit  I  will  accuse  any  man,  hap  what 

shall. 
But  soft,  sirs,  I  pray  you  hush  :  what  are  they 

that  comes  here? 

By     their     apparel     and     countenance     some 

strangers  they  appear.  [while, 

I  will  shroud  myself  secretly,  even  here  for  a 

To  hear  all  their  talk,  that  I  may  them  beguile. 

Here  entereth  Damon  and  Stephano. 
Steph.     A  short  horse  soon  curried  ;  my  belly 

waxeth  thinner, 
I  am  as  hungry  now,  as  when  I  went  to  dinner  : 


Damon  and  Pithias  2I 

Your  philosophical  diet  is  so  fine  and  small 
That  you  may  eat  your  dinner  and  supper  at 

once,  and  not  surfeit  at  all. 
Damon.    Stephano,  much  meat  breeds  heavi 
ness  :  thin  diet  makes  thee  light. 
Steph.     I  may  be  lighter  thereby,  but  I  shall 

never  run  the  faster. 
Damon.     I  have  had  sufficiently  discourse  of 

amity, 
Which  I  had  at  dinner  with  Pithias;  and  his 

pleasant  company 
Hath  fully  satisfied  me  :   it  doth  me  good  to 

feed  mine  eyes  on  him. 
Steph.     Course  or  discourse,  your  course  is 

very  coarse;  for  all  your  talk 
You  had  but  one  bare  course,  and  that  was 

pike,  rise,  and  walk. 

And  surely,  for  all  your  talk  of  philosophy, 
I  never  heard  that  a  man  with  words  could  fill 

his  belly. 
Feed  your  eyes,  quoth  you  ?  the  reason  from  my 

wisdom  swerveth, 
I    stared    on    you    both,    and    yet    my    belly 

starveth.  [fine  memory. 

Damon.     Ah,  Stephano,  small  diet  maketh  a 

Steph.     I  care  not  for  your  crafty  sophistry. 

You  two  are  fine,  let  me  be  fed  like  a  gross 

knave  still;  [will, 

I  pray  you  licence  me  for  a  while  to  have  my 
At  home  to  tarry,  whiles  you  take  view  of  this 

city  !  [very  witty. 

To  find  some  odd  victuals  in  a  corner   I   am 

Damon.     At  your  pleasure,  sir  :  I  will  wait 

on  myself  this  day; 
Yet  attend  upon  Pithias,  which  for  a  purpose 

tarrieth  at  home  : 


22 


Damon  and  Pithias 


So  doing,  you  wait  upon  me  also. 
Steph.     With  wings  on  my  feet  I  go. 

Exit. 
Damon.  Not  in  vain  the  poet  saith,  Naturam 

jurcd  expellas,  tamen  usque  recurret; 
For  train  up  a  bondman  to  never  so  good  a 

behaviour, 

Yet  in  some  point  of  servility  he  will  savour : 
As   this   Stephano,   trusty   to   me   his   master, 

loving  and  kind,  [find. 

Yet  touching  his  belly  a  very  bondman  I  him 
He  is  to  be  borne  withal,  being  so  just  and 

true,  [new. 

I  assure  you,  I  would  not  change  him  for  no 
But  methinks  this  is  a  pleasant  city; 
The  seat  is  good,  and  yet  not  strong ;  and  that 

is  great  pity. 

Can's,  (aside).     I  am  safe,  he  is  mine  own. 
Damon.     The  air  subtle  and  fine,  the  people 

should  be  witty  [region  : 

That   dwell   under  this   climate   in   so   pure  a 
A  trimmer  plot  I  have  not  seen  in  my  pere 
grination. 

Nothing  misliketh  me  in  this  country, 
But  that  I  heard  such  muttering  of  cruelty  : 
Fame  reporteth  strange  things  of  Dionysius, 
But  kings'  matters  passing  our  reach,  pertain 

not  to  us.  [world  began, 

Carts.     Dionysius,    quoth    you?    since    the 
In  Sicilia  never  reigned  so  cruel  a  man  : 
A  despiteful  tyrant  to  all  men;  I  marvel,  I, 
That  none  makes  him  away,  and  that  suddenly. 
Damon.     My  friend,  the  gods  forbid  so  cruel 

a  thing  [the  king  ! 

That  any  man  should  lift  up  his  sword  against 
Or  seek  other  means  by  death  him  to  prevent, 


Damon  and  Pithias  23 

Whom  to  rule  on  earth  the  mighty  gods  have 
sent.  [Dionysius. 

But,    my  friend,   leave  off  this   talk  of   King 
Cam.     Why,  sir?  he  cannot  hear  us. 
Damon.     What    then?     An    nescis    longas 
regibus  esse  manus? 

It  is  no  safe  talking  of  them  that  strikes  afar 
off. 

But  leaving  kings'  matters,  I  pray  you  show 
me  this  courtesy, 

To  describe  in  few  words  the  state  of  this  city. 

A  traveller  I  am,  desirous  to  know 

The  state  of  each  country,  wherever  I  go  : 

Not  to  the  hurt  of  any  state,  but  to  get  experi 
ence  thereby. 

It  is  not  for  nought,  that  the  poet  doth  cry, 

Die    mihi   musa   virum,    captce    post    tempora 
Trojce, 

Qui  mores  hominum  multorum  vidit  et  urbes. 

In  which  verses,  as  some  writers  do  scan, 

The  poet  describeth  a  perfect  wise  man  : 

Even  so  I,  being  a  stranger,  addicted  to  philo 
sophy, 

To  see  the  state  of  countries  myself  I  apply. 
Cam.     Sir,  I  like  this  intent,  but  may  I  ask 

your  name  without  scorn? 
Damon.     My  name  is  Damon,  well  known  in 

my  country,  a  gentleman  born. 
Caris.     You  do  wisely  to  search  the  state 
of  each  country 

To  bear  intelligence  thereof,  whither  you  lust. 
He  is  a  spy.  [Aside. 

Sir,   I  pray  you,   have  patience  awhile,  for  I 
have  to  do  hereby  : 

View  this  weak  part  of  this  city  as  you  stand, 
and  I  very  quickly 


24 


Damon  and  Pithias 


Will  return  to  you  again,  and  then  will  I  show 
The  state  of  all  this  country,  and  of  the  court 

also.  Exit  Cans. 

Damon.     I    thank   you    for    your   courtesy. 

This  chanceth  well  that  I 
Met  with  this  gentleman  so  happily, 
Which,  as  it  seemeth,  misliketh  something, 
Else  he  would  not  talk  so  boldly  of  the  king, 
And  that  to  a  stranger  :  but  lo,  where  he  comes 
in  haste. 

Here  entereth  Carisophus  and  Snap. 
Cam.     This  is  he,   fellow  Snap,  snap  him 

up :  away  with  him. 
Snap.     Good  fellow,  thou  must  go  with  me 

to  the  court. 

Damon.     To  the  court,  sir?  and  why? 
Cam.     Well,  we  will  dispute  that  before  the 

king.     Away  with  him  quickly. 
Damon.     Is  this  the  courtesy  you  promised 

me,  and  that  very  lately? 
Cam.     Away  with  him,  I  say. 
Damon.     Use   no  violence,    I   will   go   with 
you  quietly.  Exeunt  omnes. 

Here  entereth  Aristippus. 
Aris.     Ah,    sirrah,    by'r    Lady,    Aristippus 

likes  Dionysius*  court  very  well, 
Which    in    passing    joys    and   pleasures    doth 

excel. 
Where  he  hath  dapsiles  ccenas,  geniales  lectos, 

et  auro 

Fulgentem  tyranni  zonam. 
I  have  plied  the  harvest,  and  stroke  when  the 

iron  was  hot ; 

When  I  spied  my  time,  I  was  not  squeamish 

to  crave,  God  wot !  [king's  bosom, 

But  with  some  pleasant  toy  I  crept  into  the 


Damon  and  Pithias  25 

For  which  Dionysius  gave  me  Auri  talentum 

magnum — 

A  large  reward  for  so  simple  services. 
What  then?  the  king's  praise  standeth  chiefly 

in  bountifulness  :  [santly, 

Which  thing  though  I  told  the  king  very  plea- 
Yet  can  I  prove  it  by  good  writers  of  great 

antiquity  : 
But  that  shall  not  need  at  this  time,  since  that 

I  have  abundantly  : 
When  I  lack  hereafter,  I  will  use  this  point  of 

philosophy : 
But    now,    whereas    I    have    felt    the    king's 

liberality,  [regally : 

As   princely   as   it   came,    I    will   spend   it   as 
Money  is  current,  men  say,  and  current  comes 

of  Currendo : 
Then  will   I   make  money  run,  as  his  nature 

requireth,  I  trow. 

For  what  becomes  a  philosopher  best, 
But  to  despise  money  above  the  rest? 
And  yet  not  so  despise  it,  but  to  have  in  store 
Enough  to  serve  his  own  turn,  and  somewhat 

more. 
With   sundry  sports  and  taunts  yesternight   I 

delighted  the  king,  [did  ring, 

That  with  his  loud  laughter  the  whole  court 
And  I  thought  he  laugh 'd  not  merrier  than  I, 

when  I  got  this  money. 
But,  mumbudget,  for  Carisophus  I  espy 
In  haste  to  come  hither :    I   must  handle  the 

knave  finely. 

[Here  entereth  Carisophus. 
O   Carisophus,   my  dearest  friend,   my  trusty 

companion!          .  Pon8"? 

What  news  with  you?  where  have  you  been  so 


26 


Damon  and  Pithias 


Cam.     My  best  beloved  friend  Aristippus, 

I  am  come  at  last; 
I  have  not  spent  all  my  time  in  waste. 
I  have  got  a  prey,  and  that  a  good  one,  I  trow. 
Arist.     What    prey    is    that?    fain   would    I 

know.  [dare  say, 

Cam.     Such  a  crafty  spy  I  have  caught,  I 
As  never  was  in  Sicilia  before  this  day ; 
Such  a  one  as  viewed  every  weak  place  in  the 

city,  [very  witty  : 

Surviewed  the  haven  and  each  bulwark  in  talk 

And  yet  by  some  words  himself  he  did  bewray. 

Arist.     I  think  so  in  good  faith,  as  you  did 

handle  him. 
Cam.     I   handled  him  clerkly,    I   joined   in 

talk  with  him  courteously  : 
But  when  we  were  entered,  I  let  him  speak  his 

will,  and  I 
Suck'd  out  thus  much  of  his  words,  that  I  made 

him  say  plainly,  [city  ; 

He  was  come  hither  to  know  the  state  of  the 
And  not  only  this,  but  that  he  would  under 
stand  [land. 
The  state  of  Dionysius'  court  and  of  the  whole 
Which  words  when  I  heard,  I  desired  him  to 

stay, 

Till  I  had  done  a  little  business  of  the  way, 
Promising  him  to  return  again  quickly;   and 

so  did  convey 
Myself  to  the  court  for  Snap  the  tipstaff,  which 

came  and  upsnatched  him, 
Brought  him  to  the  court,  and  in  the  porter's 

lodge  dispatched  him. 

After  I  ran  to  Dionysius,  as  fast  as  I  could, 
And  bewrayed  this  matter  to  him,  which  I  have 

you  told ; 


Damon  and  Pithias  27 

Which  thing  when  he  heard,  being  very  merry 

before, 
He  suddenly  fell  in  dump,  and  foaming  like  a 

boar,  [die 

At  last  he  swore  in  great  rage  that  he  should 
By   the   sword   or   the   wheel,    and   that   very 

shortly. 

I  am  too  shamefast :  for  my  travail  and  toil 
I    crave   nothing   of   Dionysius,   but   only   his 

spoil : 
Little  hath  he  about  him,  but  a  few  motheaten 

crowns  of  gold,  [hold  : 

Cha  pouch 'd  them  up  already,  they  are  sure  in 
And  now  I  go  into  the  city,  to  say  sooth, 
To  see  what  he  hath  at  his  lodging  to  make  up 

my  mouth. 
Arist.     My  Carisophus,  you  have  done  good 

service.     But  what  is  the  spy's  name? 
Can's.     He  is  called  Damon,  born  in  Greece, 

from  whence  lately  he  came. 
Arist.     By  my  troth,  I  will  go  see  him,  and 

speak  with  him  too,  if  I  may. 
Cam.     Do  so,  I  pray  you;  but  yet  by  the 

way,  [king. 

As  occasion  serveth,  commend  my  service  to  the 
Arist.     Dictum  sapienti  sat  est:  friend  Cari 
sophus,  shall  I  forget  that  thing? 
No,  I  warrant  you  :  though  I  say  little  to  your 

face, 
I  will  lay  on  mouth  for  you  to  Dionysius,  when 

I    am    in    place. 
If  I  speak  one  word  for  such  a  knave,  hang 

me.  [Aside.]  Exit. 

Cam.     Our     fine     philosopher,      our     trim 

learned  elf, 
Is  gone  to  see  as  false  a  spy  as  himself. 


28  Damon  and  Pithias 

Damon  smatters  as  well  as  he  of  crafty  philo 
sophy, 

And  can  turn  cat  in  the  pan  very  prettily  : 

But  Carisophus  hath  given  him  such  a  mighty 
check, 

As  I  think  in  the  end  will  break  his  neck. 

What  care  I  for  that?  why  would  he  then  pry, 

And  learn  the  secret  estate  of  our  country  and 
city?  [wise: 

He  is  but  a  stranger,  by  his  fall  let  others  be 

I  care  not  who  fall,  so  that  I  may  rise. 

As  for  fine  Aristippus,  I  will  keep  in  with  him — 

He  is  a  shrewd  fool  to  deal  withal,  he  can 
swim —  [plainly, 

And  yet  by  my  troth,  to  speak  my  conscience 

I    will   use   his   friendship   to   mine  own  com 
modity. 

While    Dionysius    favoureth    him,    Aristippus 
shall  be  mine ; 

But  if  the  king  once  frown  on  him,  then  good 
night,  Tomalin  : 

He  shall  be  as  strange  as  though  I  never  saw 
him  before. 

But  I  tarry  too  long,  I  will  prate  no  more. 

Jack,  come  away. 

Jack.     At  hand,  sir.  [see 

Cam.     At    Damon's    lodging,    if   that   you 

Any  stir  to  arise,  be  still  at  hand  by  me  : 

Rather  than  I  will  lose  the  spoil  I  will  blade 
it  out.  [Exeunt. 

Here  entereth  Pithias  and  Stephana. 
Pithias.     What  strange  news  are  these !  ah, 
my  Stephano, 

Is  my  Damon  in  prison,  as  the  voice  doth  go? 
Stephana.     It  is  true,   O  cruel  hap !   he  is 
taken  for  a  spy, 


Damon  and  Pithias  29 

And  as  they  say,   by   Dionysius'  own   mouth 

condemned  to  die. 

Pithias.     To  die  !    Alas  !    For  what  cause  ? 
Steph.     A   sycophant   falsely  accused   him : 

other  cause  there  is  none. 
That,  O  Jupiter,  of  all  wrongs  the  revenger, 
Seest  thou  this  unjustice,  and  wilt  thou  stay 
any  longer  [fire, 

From  heaven  to  send  down  thy  hot  consuming 
To  destroy  the  workers  of  wrong,  which  pro 
voke  thy  just  ire? 

Alas  !  Master  Pithias,  what  shall  we  do, 
Being  in  a  strange  country,  void  of  friends  and 
acquaintance  too?  [day* 

Ah,  poor  Stephano,  hast  thou  lived  to  see  this 
To  see  thy  true  master  unjustly  made  away? 
Pithias.     Stephano,    seeing    the    matter    is 

come  to  this  extremity, 

Let  us  make  virtue  our  friend  of  mere  necessity. 
Run  thou  to  the  court,  and  understand  secretly 
As  much  as  thou  canst  of  Damon's  cause, 

and  I 

Will  make  some  means  to  entreat  Aristippus  : 
He  can  do  much,  as  I  hear,  with  King  Dio 
nysius. 
Steph.     I  am  gone,  sir.     Ah,  I  would  to  God 

my  travail  and  pain 

Might  restore  my  master  to  his  liberty  again  ! 

Pithias.     Ah  woful  Pithias  !  sith  now  I  am 

alone,  [moan  ? 

What    way    shall    I   first    begin  to    make   my 

What  words  shall  I  find  apt  for  my  complaint? 

Damon,  my  friend,  my  joy,  my  life,  is  in  peril. 

Of  force  I  must  now  faint. 

But,    O   music,   as   in   joyful   times   thy  merry 
notes  did  borrow, 


30  Damon  and  Pithias 

So  now  lend  me  thy  yearnful  tunes  to  utter  my 
sorrow. 

Here  Pithias  sings  and  the  regals  play. 

Awake,  ye  woful  wights, 

That  long  have  wept  in  woe : 
Resign  to  me  your  plaints  and  tears, 

My  hapless  hap  to  show. 

My  woe  no  tongue  can  tell, 

No  pen  can  well  descry: 

O,  what  a  death  is  this  to  hear, 
Damon  my  friend  must  die ! 

The  loss  of  worldly  wealth 

Man's  wisdom  may  restore, 
And  physic  hath  provided  too 

A  salve  for  every  sore: 
But  my  true  friend  once  lost, 
No  art  can  well  supply: 

Then,  what  a  death  is  this  to  hear, 
Damon  my  friend  must  die ! 

My  mouth,  refuse  the  food, 

That  should  my  limbs  sustain: 
Let  sorrow  sink  into  my  breast, 

And  ransack  every  vein: 
Ye  Furies,  all  at  once 
On  me  your  torments  try : 

Why  should  I  live,  since  that  I  hear 
Damon  my  friend  should  die  I 

Gripe  me,  you  greedy  grief 

And  present  pangs  of  death, 
You  sisters  three,  with  cruel  hands 

With  speed  now  stop  my  breath : 
Shrine  me  in  clay  alive, 

Some  good  man  stop  mine  eye: 


Damon  and  Pithias  31 

O  death,  come  now,  seeing  I  hear 

Damon  my  friend  must  die ! 

He  speaketh  this  after  the  song. 
In  vain  I  call  for  death,  which  heareth  not  my 

complaint :  [faint  ? 

But  what  wisdom  is  this,  in  such  extremity  to 
Multum  juvat  in  re  maid  animus  bonus. 
I  will  to  the  court  myself,  to  make  friends,  and 

that  presently.  [misery — 

I    will    never    forsake    my    friend    in    time   of 
But  do  I  see  Stephano  amazed  hither  to  run? 

Here  entereth  Stephano. 
Stephano.     O    Pithias,    Pithias,   we   are   all 

undone  !  [sorrow ; 

Mine   own    ears    have    sucked    in    mine    own 
I  heard  Dionysius  swear  that  Damon  should 

die  to-morrow. 

Pithias.     How  earnest  thou  so  near  the  pre 
sence  of  the  king,  [thing? 
That  thou  mightest  hear  Dionysius  speak  this 
Steph.     By  friendship  I  gat  into  the  court, 

where  in  great  audience 
I  heard  Dionysius  with  his  own  mouth  give 

this  cruel  sentence 
By    these    express    words :    that    Damon    the 

Greek,  that  crafty  spy, 
Without   further   judgment  to-morrow   should 

die: 
Believe  me,  Pithias,  with  these  ears  I  heard  it 

myself. 
Pithias.     Then  how  near  is  my  death  also  ! 

Ah,  woe  is  me  ! 
Ah  my  Damon,  another  myself,  shall  I  forego 

thee? 

Stephano.     Sir,  there  is  no  time  of  lament 
ing  now  :  it  behoveth  us 


32  Damon  and  Pithias 

To  make  means  to  them  which  can  do  much 

with  Dionysius, 
That  he  be  not  made  away,  ere  his  cause  be 

fully  heard ;  for  we  see 
By  evil  report  things  be  made  to  princes  far 

worse  than  they  be. 
But   lo,    yonder   cometh    Aristippus,    in   great 

favour  with  King  Dionysius,  [for  us, 

Entreat  him  to  speak  a  good  word  to  the  king 
And  in  the  mean  season  I  will  to  your  lodging 

to  see  all  things  safe  there.  Exit. 

Pithias.     To  that   I   agree :   but  let  us  slip 

aside  his  talk  to  hear.       [Pithias  retires. 
Here  enter eth  Aristippus. 
Arist.     Here  is  a  sudden  change  indeed,  a 

strange  metamorphosis,          [thought  this  ? 
This  court  is  clean  altered  :   who  would  have 
Dionysius,  of  late  so  pleasant  and  merry, 
Is  quite  changed  now  into  such  melancholy, 
That  nothing  can  please  him  :  he  walketh  up 

and  down,  [frown ; 

Fretting  and  chaffing,  on  every  man  he  doth 
Insomuch  that,  when  I  in  pleasant  words  began 

to  play,  [so  short — 

So  sternly  he  frowned  on  me,  and  knit  me  up 
I  perceive  it  is  no  safe  playing  with  lions  but 

when  it  please  them  ;  [them, 

If  you  claw  where  it  itch  not   you  shall  disease 
And  so  perhaps  get  a  clap ;  mine  own  proof 

taught  me  this, 

That  it  is  very  good  to  be  merry  and  wise. 
The    only    cause   of   this   hurly-burly    is    Cari- 

sophus,  that  wicked  man,  [gentleman, 
Which  lately  took  Damon  for  a  spy,  a  poor 
And  hath  incensed  the  king  against  him  so 

despitefully, 


Damon  and  Pithias 


33 


That  Dionysius  hath  judged  him  to-morrow  to 

die. 
I  have  talk'd  with  Damon,  whom  though  in 

words  I  found  very  witty, 

Yet  was  he  more  curious  than  wise  in  viewing 
this  city  :  [cause  why 

But  truly,  for  aught  I  can  learn,  there  is  no 
So   suddenly   and   cruelly   he   should   be   con 
demned  to  die : 

Howsoever  it  be,  this  is  the  short  and  long, 
I   dare  not  gainsay  the  king,  be  it  right  or 
wrong  :  [this  case  : 

I  am  sorry,  and  that  is  all  I  may  or  can  do  in 
Nought    availeth    persuasion    where    froward 
opinion  taketh  place. 

[Pithias  comes  forward. 
Pithias.     Sir,  if  humble  suits  you  would  not 

despise, 

Then  bow  on  me  your  pitiful  eyes. 
My  name  is  Pithias,  in  Greece  well  known, 
A  perfect  friend  to  that  woful  Damon, 
Which  now  a  poor  captive  in  this  court  doth  lie, 
By   the   king's   own   mouth,    as    I    hear,   con 
demned  to  die; 

For  whom  I  crave  your  mastership's  goodness, 
To  stand  his  friend  in  this  his  great  distress. 
Nought  hath   he  done  worthy  of  death;   but 

very  fondly, 

Being  a  stranger,  he  viewed  this  city  : 
For  no  evil  practices,  but  to  feed  his  eyes. 
But  seeing  Dionysius  is  informed  otherwise, 
My  suit  is  to  you,  when  you  see  time  and  place, 
To  assuage  the  king's  anger,  and  to  purchase 
his  grace  :  [only, 

In  which  doing  you  shall  not  do  good  to  one 
But  you  shall  further  two,  and  that  fully. 
ED.  D 


34 


Damon  and  Pithias 


Arist.     My  friend,  in  this  case  I  can  do  you 

no  pleasure. 
Pithias.    Sir,  you  serve  in  the  court,  as  fame 

doth  tell. 
Arist.     I  am  of  the  court  indeed,  but  none 

of  the  council. 
Pithias.     As    I    hear,    none    is    in    greater 

favour  with  the  king  than  you  at  this  day. 
Arist.     The  more  in  favour,  the  less  I  dare 

say. 
Pithias.     It   is   a   courtier's   praise   to  help 

strangers  in  misery. 
Arist.     To  help  another,  and  hurt  myself,  it 

is  an  evil  point  of  courtesy. 
Pithias.     You    shall    not    hurt    yourself    to 

speak  for  the  innocent. 
Arist.     He  is  not  innocent  whom  the  king 

judgeth  nocent. 
Pithias.     Why,  sir,  do  you  think  this  matter 

past  all  remedy? 
Arist.     So    far    past    that    Dionysius    hath 

sworn  Damon  to-morrow  shall  die. 
Pithias.     This    word    my    trembling    heart 

cutteth  in  two. 
Ah,  sir,  in  this  woful  case  what  wist  I  best  to 

do? 
Arist.     Best  to  content  yourself  when  there 

is  no  remedy,  [misery  : 

He    is    well    relieved    that    foreknoweth    his 
Yet,  if  any  comfort  be,  it  resteth  in  Eubulus, 
The  chiefest  councillor  about  King  Dionysius  : 
Which  pitieth  Damon's  case  in  this  great  ex 
tremity, 

Persuading  the  king  from  all  kind  of  cruelty. 
Pithias.     The  mighty  gods  preserve  you  for 

this  word  of  comfort. 


Damon  and  Pithias  35 

Taking  my  leave  of  your  goodness,  I  will  now 

resort 

To  Eubulus,  that  good  councillor : 
But  hark  !  methink  I  hear  a  trumpet  blow. 
Arist.     The  king  is  at  hand,  stand  close  in 

the  prease.     Beware,  if  he  know 
You  are  friend  to  Damon  he  will  take  you  for 

a  spy  also. 
Farewell,  I  dare  not  be  seen  with  you. 

Here  entereth  King  Dionysius,  Eubulus 
the  Councillor,  and  Gronno  the  Hang" 
man. 
Diony.     Gronno,     do     my     commandment : 

strike  off  Damon's  irons  by  and  by. 
Then  bring  him  forth,   I  myself  will  see  him 

executed  presently. 

Gronno.     O   mighty   king,   your   command 
ment  will  I  do  speedily. 
Diony.     Eubulus,  thou  hast  talked  in  vain, 

for  sure  he  shall  die. 
Shall  I  suffer  my  life  to  stand  in  peril  of  every 

spy? 
Eubul.     That    he    conspired    against    your 

person  his  accuser  cannot  say : 
He  only  viewed  your  city,  and  will  you  for  that 

make  him  away? 
Diony.     What    he    would    have    done    the 

guess  is  great :  he  minded  me  to  hurt 
That  came  so  slyly  to  search  out  the  secret 

estate  of  my  court. 
Shall  I  still  live  in  fear?  no,  no  :  I  will  cut  off 

such  imps  betime, 
Lest  that  to  my  farther  danger  too  high  they 

climb. 

Eubul.     Yet  have  the  mighty  gods  immortal 
fame  assigned 

D    2 


36  Damon  and  Pithias 

To  all  worldly  princes,  which  in  mercy  be  in 
clined. 
Diony.     Let  fame  talk  what  she  list,   so  I 

may  live  in  safety.  [mercy. 

Eubul.  The  only  mean  to  that  is  to  use 
Diony.  A  mild  prince  the  people  despiseth. 
Eubul.  A  cruel  king  the  people  hateth. 
Diony.  Let  them  hate  me,  so  they  fear  me. 
Eubul.  That  is  not  the  way  to  live  in  safety. 
Diony.  My  sword  and  power  shall  purchase 

my  quietness. 
Eubul.     That  is  sooner  procured  by  mercy 

and  gentleness. 

Diony.     Dionysius  ought  to  be  feared. 
Eubul.     Better  for  him  to  be  well  beloved. 
Diony.     Fortune  maketh  all  things  subject 

to  my  power. 
Eubul.     Believe    her    not,    she    is    a    light 

goddess;  she  can  laugh  and  low'r. 
Diony.     A  king's  praise  standeth  in  the  re 
venging  of  his  enemy.  [clemency. 
Eubul.     A    greater  praise    to   win    him    by 
Diony.     To  suffer  the  wicked  live  it  is  no 

mercy. 
Eubul.     To    kill    the    innocent   it    is    great 

cruelty. 
Diony.     Is     Damon     innocent,     which     so 

craftily  undermined  Carisophus,  [nysius? 
To  understand  what  he  could  of  King  Dio- 
Which  surviewed  the  haven  and  each  bulwark 

in  the  city, 
Where  battery  might  be  laid,  what  way  best  to 

approach?  shall  I  [despite? 

Suffer  such  a  one  to  live,  that  worketh  me  such 
No,  he  shall  die,  then  I  am  safe  :  a  dead  dog 

cannot  bite. 


Damon  and  Pithias  37 

Eubul.     But  yet,  O  mighty  king,  my  duty 

bindeth  me 
To  give  such  counsel,  as  with  your  honour  may 

best  agree : 

The  strongest  pillars  of  princely  dignity, 
I  find  this  justice  with  mercy  and  prudent  liber 
ality  : 

The  one  judgeth  all  things  by  upright  equity, 
The  other  rewardeth  the  worthy,  flying  each 

extremity. 

As  to  spare  those  which  offend  maliciously, 
It  may  be  called  no  justice,  but  extreme  injury  : 
So  upon  suspicion  of  such  things  not  well- 
proved,  [accused, 
To  put  to  death  presently  whom  envious  flattery 
It  seemeth  of  tyranny ;  and  upon  what  fickle 

ground  all  tyrants  do  stand, 
Athens  and  Lacedemon  can  teach  you,  if  it  be 

rightly  scann'd.  [seeks 

And  not  only  these  citizens,  but  who  curiously 
The  whole  histories  of  all  the  world,  not  only 

of  Romans  and  Greeks, 
Shall  well  perceive  of  all  tyrants  the  ruinous 

fall, 
Their    state    uncertain,    beloved   of   none,    but 

hated  of  all. 
Of   merciful    princes   to   set    out    the   passing 

felicity 
I  need  not :  enough  of  that  even  these  days  do 

testify. 
They  live  devoid  of  fear,  their  sleeps  are  sound, 

they  dread  no  enemy, 
They  are  feared  and  loved,  and  why?  they  rule 

with  justice  and  mercy, 
Extending   justice   to   such    as   wickedly   from 

justice  have  swerved : 


38  Damon  and  Pithias 

Mercy  unto  those  who  in  opinion  of  simpleness 

have  mercy  deserved. 

Of  liberty  nought  I  say,  but  only  this  thing, 
Liberty  upholdeth  the  state  of  a  king      [issue, 
Whose  large  bountifulness  ought  to  fall  to  this 
To   reward   none   but   such  as   deserve  it   for 

virtue.  [provident  liberality ; 

Which  merciful  justice  if  you  would  follow,  and 
Neither  the  caterpillars  of  all  courts,  et  fruges 

consumere  nati, 
Parasites  with   wealth   puffd   up,   should   not 

look  so  high ;  [die. 

Nor  yet  for  this  simple  fact  poor  Damon  should 

Diony.     With    pain   mine   ears   have   heard 

this  vain  talk  of  mercy.  [only  : 

I    tell   thee,    fear   and   terror   defendeth   kings 
Till  he  be  gone  whom  I  suspect,  how  shall  I 

live  quietly, 
Whose  memory  with  chilling  horror  fills  my 

breast  day  and  night  violently? 
My  dreadful  dreams  of  him  bereaves  my  rest; 

on  bed  I  lie 
Shaking  and  trembling,  as  one  ready  to  yield 

his  throat  to  Damon's  sword. 
This  quaking  dread  nothing  but  Damon's  blood 

can  stay  :  [alway. 

Better  he  die  than  I  to  be  tormented  with  fear 
He    shall    die,    though    Eubulus    consent    not 

thereto  :  [to  do. 

It  is  lawful,  for  kings,  as  they  list,  all  things 

Here     Gronno     [and     Snap]     bring     in 

Damon,  and  Pithias  meeteth  him  by 

the  way. 

Pithias.     O  my  Damon  ! 
Damon.     O  my  Pithias  !  seeing  death  must 

part  us,  farewell  for  ever. 


Damon  and  Pithias  39 

Pithias.     O  Damon,  O  my  sweet  friend  ! 
Snap.     Away    from    the    prisoner :    what    a 

prease  have  we  here  ? 
Gronno.     As    you    commanded,    O    mighty 

king,  we  have  brought  Damon. 
Diony.     Then  go  to :    make  ready.     I   will 

not  stir  out  of  this  place 

Till  I  see  his  head  stroken  off  before  my  face. 
Gronno.     It  shall  be  done,  sir.     To  Damon. 

Because  your  eyes  have  made  such  a-do 
I  will  knock  down  this  your  lantern,  and  shut 

up  your  shop-window  too. 
Damon.     O  mighty  king,  whereas  no  truth 

my  innocent  life  can  save, 
But  that  so  greedily  you  thrust  my  guiltless 

blood  to  have, 
Albeit   (even   for   thought)   for  ought   against 

your  person  : 
Yet  now  I  plead  not  for  life,  ne  will  I  crave 

your  pardon. 
But  seeing  in  Greece  my  country,  where  well  I 

am  known, 
I    have   worldly   things   fit   for  mine   alliance, 

when  I  am  gone,  [leisure, 

To  dispose  them,  ere  I  die,  if  I  might  obtain 
I  would  account  it  (O  king)  for  a  passing  great 

pleasure  : 
Not  to  prolong  my  life  thereby,  for  which  I 

reckon  not  this, 
But  to  set  my  things  in  a  stay  :  and  surely  I 

will  not  miss,  [embrace, 

Upon  the  faith  which  all  gentlemen  ought  to 
To  return  again,  at  your  time  to  appoint,  to 

yield  my  body  here  in  this  place. 
Grant  me  (O  king)  such  time  to  despatch  this 

inquiry, 


40  Damon  and  Pithias 

And  I  will  not  fail  when  you  appoint,  even  here 

my  life  to  pay. 
Diony.     A   pleasant   request !    as   though    I 

could  trust  him  absent, 

Whom  in  no  wise  I  cannot  trust  being-  present. 
And  yet  though  I  sware  the  contrary 2  do  that 

I  require, 
Give  me  a  pledge  for  thy   return,   and  have 

thine  own  desire. 

He  is  as  near  now  as  he  was  before.     [Aside. 
Damon.     There    is    no    surer    nor    greater 

pledge  than  the  faith  of  a  gentleman. 
Diony.     It  was  wont  to  be,   but  otherwise 

now  the  world  doth  stand; 
Therefore  do  as  I  say,  else  presently  yield  thy 

neck  to  the  sword.  [word. 

If  I  might  with  my  honour,  I  would  recall  my 

Pithias.     Stand  to  your  word,  O  king,  for 

kings  ought  nothing  say,  [alway. 

But  that  they  would  perform  in  perfect  deeds 
A  pledge  you  did  require,  when  Damon  his  suit 

did  meve, 
For  which  with  heart  and  stretched  hands  most 

humble  thanks  I  give  :  [friend 

And  that  you  may  not  say  but  Damon  hath  a 
That  loves  him  better  than  his  own  life,  and 

will  do  to  his  end,  [his  : 

Take  me,  O  mighty  king  :  my  life  I  pawn  for 
Strike  off  my  head  if  Damon  hap  at  his  day  to 

miss. 
Diony.     What  art  thou,   that  chargest   me 

with  my  word  so  boldly  here? 
Pithias.     I  am  Pithias,  a  Greek  born,  which 

hold  Damon  my  friend  full  dear. 
Diony.     Too    dear   perhaps,    to   hazard    thy 

life  for  him  :  what  fondness  moveth  thee  ? 


Damon  and  Pithias  41 

Pithias.     No    fondness    at    all,    but   perfect 

amity. 

Diony.     A  mad  kind  of  amity  !  advise  thy 
self  well :  if  Damon  fail  at  his  day, 
Which  shall  be  justly  appointed,  wilt  thou  die 

for  him,  to  me  his  life  to  pay? 
Pithias.     Most  willingly,  O  mighty  king  :  if 

Damon  fail,  let  Pithias  die. 
Diony.     Thou    seemest  to   trust   his   words 

that  pawnest  thy  life  so  frankly. 
Pithias.     What    Damon    saith,    Pithias    be- 

lieveth  assuredly. 
Diony.     Take   heed,    for  life,    worldly   men 

break  promise  in  many  things. 
Pithias.     Though  worldly  men  do  so,  it  never 

haps  amongst  friends. 
Dionysius.     What  callest  thou  friends?  are 

they  not  men,  is  not  this  true? 
Pithias.     Men  they  be,  but  such  men  as  love 

one  another  only  for  virtue. 
Diony.     For  what  virtue  dost  thou  love  this 

spy,  this  Damon?  [unknown. 

Pithias.     For  that  virtue  which  yet  to  you  is 
Diony.     Eubulus,  what  shall  I  do?  I  would 

despatch  this  Damon  fain, 
But  this  foolish  fellow  so  chargeth  me  that  I 

may  not  call  back  my  word  again. 
Eubul.     The    reverent    majesty    of    a    king 

stands  chiefly  in  keeping  his  promise. 
What  you  have  said  this  whole  court  beareth 

witness, 
Save  your  honour,  whatsoever  you  do. 

Diony.    For  saving  mine  honour,  I  must  for 
bear  my  will :  go  to. 
Pithias,  seeing  thou  tookest  me  at  my  word, 

take  Damon  to  thee  : 


42  Damon  and  Pithias 

For  two  months  he  is  thine :  unbind  him,  I  set 

him  free; 
Which  time  once  expired,  if  he  appear  not  the 

next  day  by  noon, 
Without  further  delay  thou  shalt  lose  thy  life, 

and  that  full  soon.  [bed, 

Whether  he  die  by  the  way,  or  lie  sick  in  his 
If  he  return  not  then,  thou  shalt  either  hang 

or  lose  thy  head. 
Pithias.     For  this,  O  mighty  king,   I  yield 

immortal  thanks.     O  joyful  day  ! 
Diony.    Gronno,  take  him  to  thee  :  bind  him, 

see  him  kept  in  safety  :  [die. 

If  he  escape,  assure  thyself  for  him  thou  shalt 
Eubulus,  let  us  depart,  to  talk  of  this  strange 

thing  within. 

Eubul.     1  follow.  Exeunt. 

Gronno.     Damon,  thou  servest  the  gods  well 

to-day ;  be  thou  of  comfort.  [sport. 

As  for  you,  sir,  I  think  you  will  be  hanged  in 
You  heard  what  the  king  said ;   I  must  keep 

you  safely  :  [than  I. 

By   Cock,   so    I    will;   you  shall   rather  hang 
Come  on  your  way. 

Pithias.    My  Damon,  farewell ;  the  gods  have 

thee  in  keeping. 
Damon.    O  my  Pithias,  my  pledge,  farewell ; 

I  part  from  thee  weeping.  [again, 

But  joyful  at  my  day  appointed  I  will  return 
When  I  will  deliver  thee  from  all  trouble  and 

pain. 
Stephano  will  I  leave  behind  me  to  wait  upon 

thee  in  prison  alone, 
And    I,    whom   fortune  hath   reserved   to  this 

misery,  will  walk  home.  [farewell. 

Ah  my  Pithias,  my  pledge,  my  life,  my  friend, 


Damon  and  Pithias  43 

Pithias.     Farewell,  my  Damon. 
Damon.     Loth  am   I   to  depart.     Sith  sobs 
my  trembling  tongue  doth  stay, 

0  music,  sound  my  doleful  plaints,  when  I  am 

gone  my  way.  [Exit  Damon. 

Gronno.     1  am  glad  he  is  gone,  I  had  almost 

wept  too.     Come,  Pithias, 
So  God  help  me,   I  am  sorry  for  thy  foolish 

case. 

Wilt  thou  venter  thy  life  for  a  man  so  fondly? 
Pithias.     It  is  no  venter  :  my  friend  is  just, 

for  whom  I  desire  to  die. 
Gronno.     Here  is  a  madman  !  I  tell  thee,  I 

have  a  wife  whom  I  love  well, 
And  if  ich  would  die  for  her,  chould  ich  were 
in  hell.  [a  woman? 

Wilt  thou  do  more  for  a  man  than  I  would  for 
Pithias.     Yea,  that  I  will. 
Gronno.    Then  come  on  your  ways,  you  must 
to  prison  haste. 

1  fear  you  will  repent  this  folly  at  last. 
Pithias.     Tl^at  shalt  thou  never  see.     But  O 

music,  as  my  Damon  requested  thee, 
Sound  out  thy  doleful  tunes   in   this  time  of 
calamity. 

Exeunt.  Here  the  regals  play  a  mourn 
ing  song,  and  Damon  cometh  in,  in 
mariner  apparel,  and  Stephano  with 
him. 

Damon.     Weep  no  more,  Stephano,  this  is 
but  destiny  :  [die  : 

Had  not  this  happ'd,  yet  I  know  I  am  born  to 
Where  or  in  what  place,  the  gods  know  alone, 
To  whose  judgment  myself  I  commit.  There 
fore  leave  off  thy  moan,  [again, 
And  wait  upon  Pithias  in  prison  till  I  return 


44 


Damon  and  Pithias 


In  whom  my  joy,  my  care  and  life  doth  only 

remain. 
Stephana.     O   my  dear   master,   let   me  go 

with  you ;  for  my  poor  company     [misery. 

Shall  be  some  small  comfort  in  this  time  of 

Damon.     O    Stephano,    hast   thou    been    so 

long  with  me, 

And  yet  dost  not  know  the  force  of  true  amity  ? 
I  tell  thee  once  again,  my  friend  and  I  are  but 

one :  [Damon. 

Wait  upon   Pithias,   and   think  thou  art  with 
Whereof  I  may  not  now  discourse,  the  time 

passeth  away  ;  [journey  : 

The  sooner  I  am  gone,  the  shorter  shall  be  my 
Therefore  farewell,  Stephano,  commend  me  to 

my  friend  Pithias,  [woful  case. 

Whom   I  trust  to  deliver  in  time  out  of  this 

Stephano.     Farewell,  my  dear  master,  since 

your  pleasure  is  so. 
O  cruel  hap  !  O  poor  Stephano  ! 

0  cursed   Carisophus,    that   first   moved   this 

tragedy  ! —  [trow  ye? 

But  what  a  noise  is  this?  is  all  well  within, 

1  fear  all  be  not  well  within,  I  will  go  see. — 
Come  out,  you  weasel :  are  you  seeking  eggs  in 

Damon's  chest? 
Come  out,   I  say:   wilt  thou  be  packing?  by 

Cock,  you  were  best. 
Cans.     How  durst  thou,  villain,  to  lay  hands 

on  me? 

Stephano.     Out,  sir  knave,  or  I  will  send  ye. 
Art  thou  not  content  to  accuse  Damon  wrong- 

fully, 

But  wilt  thou  rob  him  also,  and  that  openly? 
Cans.     The  king  gave  me  the  spoil :  to  take 
mine  own  wilt  thou  let  me? 


Damon  and  Pithias  45 

Steph.     Thine  own,  villain  !  where  is  thine 

authority  ? 
Can's.     I  am  authority  of  myself;  dost  thou 

not  know? 
Stephana.     By'r   Lady,    that   is   somewhat; 

but  have  you  no  more  to  show? 
Can's.     What  if  I  have  not?  [blow. 

Steph.     Then  for  an  earnest  penny  take  this 
I  shall  bumbast  you,  you  mocking  knave;  chill 

put  pro  in  my  purse  for  this  time. 
Cam.     Jack,  give  me  my  sword  and  target. 
Jack.     I  cannot  come  to  you,  master,  this 

knave  doth  me  let.     Hold,  master. 
Steph     Away,   Jackanapes,   else   I   will  col- 

pheg  you  by  and  by : 
Ye  slave,  I  will  have  my  pennyworths  of  thee 

therefore,  if  I  die. 
About,  villain  ! 

Cans.     O  citizens,  help  to  defend  me. 
Steph.     Nay,  they  will  rather  help  to  hang 

thee. 
Can's.    Good  fellow,  let  us  reason  this  matter 

quietly  :  beat  me  no  more. 
Steph.     Of  this  condition  I  will  stay,  if  thou 

swear,  as  thou  art  an  honest  man, 
Thou  wilt  say  nothing  to  the  king  of  this  when 

I  am  gone. 
Cans.     I  will  say  nothing  :  here  is  my  hand, 

as  I  am  an  honest  man. 
Steph.     Then  say  on  thy  mind  :  I  have  taken 

a  wise  oath  on  him,  have  I  not,  trow  ye? 
To  trust  such  a  false  knave  upon  his  honesty? 
As  he  is  an  honest  man  (quoth  you?)  he  may 

bewray  all  to  the  king, 
And  break  his  oath  for  this  never  a  whit — but, 

my  franion,  I  tell  you  this  one  thing  : 


46 


Damon  and  Pithias 


If  you  disclose  this  I  will  devise  such  a  way, 
That  whilst  thou  livest,  thou  shalt  remember 

this  day. 
Can's.     You   need   not   devise   for  that,   for 

this  day  is  printed  in  my  memory ; 
I  warrant  you,  I  shall  remember  this  beating 

till  I  die : 
But  seeing  of  courtesy  you  have  granted  that 

we  should  talk  quietly,  [injury. 

Methinks  in  calling  me  knave  you  do  me  much 
Steph.     Why  so,  I  pray  thee  heartily? 
Caris.     Because  I  am  the  king's  man  :  keeps 

the  king  any  knaves  ? 
Steph.     He  should  not ;  but  what  he  doth,  it 

is  evident  by  thee, 

And  as  far  as  I  can  learn  or  understand, 
There  is  none  better  able  to  keep  knaves  in  all 

the  land. 
Caris.     O    sir,     I     am     a    courtier :     when 

courtiers  shall  hear  tell  [well. 

How  you  have  used  me,  they  will  not  take  it 

Steph.     Nay,  all  right  courtiers  will  ken  me 

thank ;  and  wot  you  why  ? 
Because  I  handled  a  counterfeit  courtier  in  his 

kind  so  finely. 
What,  sir?  all  are  not  courtiers  that  have  a 

counterfeit  show  : 
In  a  troop  of  honest  men  some  knaves  may 

stand,  ye  know,  [honesty, 

Such  as  by  stealth  creep  in  under  the  colour  of 
Which  sort  under  that  cloak  do  all  kinds  of 

villainy.  [urbanity, 

A  right  courtier  is  virtuous,  gentle,  and  full  of 
Hurting  no  man,  good  to  all,  devoid  of  villainy  : 
But  such  as  thou  art,  fountains  of  squirrility 

and  vain  delights ; 


Damon  and  Pithias  47 

Though  you  hang  by  the  coyrt,  you  are  but 

flatt'ring  parasites; 

As  well  deserving  the  right  name  of  courtesy, 
As    the    coward    knight    the    true    praise    of 

chivalry.  [your  well-wilier. 

I  could  say  more,  but  I  will  not,  for  that  I  am 
In  faith,  Carisophus,  you  are  no  courtier  but 

a  caterpillar, 
A   sycophant,    a   parasite,   a   flatterer,   and   a 

knave.  [have : 

Whether  I  will  or  no,  these  names  you  must 
How  well  you  deserve  this  by  your  deeds  it  is 

known,  [Damon, 

For  that  so  unjustly  thou  hast  accused  poor 
Whose  woful  case  the  gods  help  alone. 

Caris.     Sir,   are  you  his  servant,   that  you 

pity  his  case  so? 
Steph.     No,   bum   troth,    goodman   Grumb, 

his  name  is  Stephano  : 

I  am  called  Onaphets,  if  needs  you  will  know. 
The  knave  beginneth  to  sift  me,  but  I  turn  my 

name  in  and  out, 
Cretizo  cum  Cretense,  to  make  him  a  lout. 

[Aside. 
Caris.     What    mumble    you    with    yourself, 

Master  Onaphets? 
Steph.     I  am  reckoning  with  myself  how  I 

may  pay  my  debts. 
Caris.     You  have  paid  me  more  than  you 

did  owe  me. 
Steph.     Nay,    upon   a   farther   reckoning,    I 

will  pay  you  more,  if  I  know 
Either  you  talk  of  that  is  done,  or  by  your 

sycophantical  envy 
You   prick    forth    Dionysius   the   sooner,    that 

Damon  may  die  : 


48 


Damon  and  Pithias 


I  will  so  pay  thee,  that  thy  bones  shall  rattle  in 

thy  skin. 
Remember  what  I  have  said;  Onaphets  is  my 

name.  [Exit. 

Caris.     The  sturdy  knave  is  gone,  the  devil 

him  take; 
He  hath  made  my  head,  shoulders,  arms,  sides, 

and  all  to  ache. 
Thou  whoreson  villain  boy,  why  didst  thou  wait 

no  better? 
As  he  paid  me,  so  will  I  not  die  thy  debtor. 

[Strikes  him. 
Jack.     Master,  why  do  you  fight  with  me? 

I  am  not  your  match,  you  see  : 
You  durst  not  fight  with  him  that  is  gone,  and 

will  you  wreak  your  anger  on  me? 
Caris.     Thou   villain,    by   thee    I    have   lost 

mine  honour. 
Beaten  with  a  cudgel  like  a  slave,  a  vacabone, 

or  a  lazy  lubber, 
And   not  given   one  blow  again.     Hast   thou 

handled  me  well? 

Jack.  Master,  I  handled  you  not,  but  who 
did  handle  you  very  handsomely,  you  can 
tell. 

Caris.     Handsomely  !  thou  crack-rope. 
Jack.     Yea,   sir,   very   handsomely :    I   hold 

you  a  groat 
He  handled  you   so  handsomely   that   he  left 

not  one  mote  in  your  coat. 
Caris.     O,    I    had    firk'd    him    trimly,    thou 
villain,  if  thou  hadst  given  me  my  sword. 
Jack.     It  is  better  as  it  is,  master,  believe 
me,  at  a  word. 


If  he  had  seen  your 
been  fiercer, 


weapon,  he  would  have 


Damon  and  Pithias  49 

And  so  perhaps  beat  you  worse,   I  speak  it 

with  my  heart. 
You  were  never  at  the  dealing  of  fence-blows, 

but  you  had  four  away  for  your  part. 
It  is  but  your  luck,  you  are  man  good  enough ; 
But  the  Welsh  Onaphets  was  a  vengeance- 
knave,  and  rough.  [your  bed, 
Master,  you  were  best  go  home  and  rest  in 
Methinks  your  cap  waxeth  too  little  for  your 

head. 

Cam.     What !  doth  my  head  swell? 
Jack.     Yea,  as  big  as  a  codshead,  and  bleeds 
too.  [this  hue. 

Cam.     I  am  ashamed  to  show  my  face  with 
Jack.     No    shame   at   all;    men   have   been 

beaten  far  better  than  you. 
Cam.     I  must  go  to  the  chirurgeon's;  what 

shall  I  say,  when  I  am  a-dressing? 
Jack.     You  may  say  truly  you  met  with  a 
knave's  blessing.  Exeunt. 

Here  enter eth  Aristippus. 
Arist.     By  mine  own  experience  I  prove  true 

that  many  men  tell, 

To  live  in  court  not  beloved,  better  be  in  hell : 
What  crying  out,  what  cursing  is  there  within 

of  Carisophus, 

Because  he  accused  Damon  to  King  Dionysius  ! 
Even  now  he  came  whining  and  crying  into  the 
court  for  the  nonce,  [knave's  sconce. 

Showing    that    one    Onaphets    had    broke   his 
Which  strange  name  when  they  heard  every 

man  laugh 'd  heartily, 

And  I  by  myself  scann'd  his  name  secretly; 
For  well  I  knew  it  was  some  mad-headed  child 
That  invented  this  name,  that  the  log-headed 

knave  might  be  beguil'd. 
ED.  E 


50  Damon  and  Pithias 

In  tossing  it  often  with  myself  to  and  fro, 

I  found  out  that  Onaphets  backward  spelled 

Stephano. 
I  smiled  in  my  sleeve  how  to  see  by  turning 

his  name  he  dress 'd  him, 
And  how  for  Damon  his  master's  sake  with  a 

wooden  cudgel  he  bless 'd  him. 
None  pitied  the  knave,  no  man  nor  woman ; 

but  all  laugh 'd  him  to  scorn. 
To  be  thus  hated  of  all,  better  unborn  : 
Far  better  Aristippus  hath  provided,  I  trow; 
For  in  all  the  court  I  am  beloved  both  of  high 

and  low. 
I  offend  none,  insomuch  that  women  sing  this 

to  my  great  praise, 

Omnis  Aristippum  decuit  color,  et  locus  et  res. 
But  in  all  this  jollity  one  thing  mazeth  me; 
The  strangest  thing  that  ever  was  heard  or 

known 

Is  now  happened  in  this  court  by  that  Damon, 
Whom  Carisophus  accused  :  Damon  is  now  at 

liberty, 
For  whose  return  Pithias   his   friend   lieth  in 

prison,  alas,  in  great  jeopardy. 
To-morrow  is  the  day,  which  day  by  noon  if 

Damon  return  not,  earnestly 
The  king  hath  sworn  that  Pithias  should  die; 
Whereof  Pithias  hath  intelligence  very  secretly, 
Wishing  that  Damon  may  not  return  till  he 

hath  paid 
His  life  for  his  friend.    Hath  it  been  heretofore 

ever  said, 
That   any   man   for   his   friend   would   die   so 

willingly? 

O  noble  friendship  !  O  perfect  amity  ! 
Thy  force  is  here  seen,  and  that  very  perfectly. 


Damon  and  Pithias  51 

The  king  himself  museth  hereat,  yet  he  is  far 

out  of  square 
That  he  trusteth  none  to  come  near  him :  not 

his  own  daughters  will  he  have 
Unsearch'd  to  enter  his  chamber,  which  he  hath 

made  barbers  his  beard  to  shave, 
Not  with  knife  or  razor,  for  all  edge-tools  he 

fears,  [his  hairs. 

But  with  hot  burning  nutshells  they  singe  off 
Was  there  ever  man  that  lived  in  such  misery? 
Well,  I  will  go  in — with  a  heavy  and  pensive 

heart,  too, 
To   think   how   Pithias,   this   poor  gentleman, 

to-morrow  shall  die.  Exit. 

Here  enter eth  Jack  and  Will. 
Jack.     Will,   by   mine   honesty,   I   will   mar 

your  monkey's  face,  if  you  so  fondly  prate. 
Will.     Jack,   by   my   troth,   seeing  you   are 

without  the  court-gate, 
If  you  play  Jack-napes,  in  mocking  my  master 

and  despising  my  face, 

Even  here  with  a  pantacle  I  will  you  disgrace; 
And  though  you  have  a  far  better  face  than  I, 
Yet  who  is  better  man  of  us  two  these  fists 

shall  try, 
Unless  you  leave  your  taunting. 

Jack.     Thou  began 'st  first;  didst  thou  now 

not  say  even  now, 
That  Carisophus  my  master  was  no  man  but  a 

cow,  [blow  again? 

In  taking  so  many  blows,  and  gave  never  a 

Will.     I  said  so  indeed,  he  is  but  a  tame 

ruffian, 
That  can  swear  by  his  flask  and  twich-box,  and 

God's  precious  lady, 

And  yet  will  be  beaten  with  a  faggot-stick. 

E  2 


52  Damon  and  Pithias 

These  barking  whelps  were  never  good  biters, 
Ne  yet  great  crakers  were  ever  great  fighters  : 
But  seeing  you  egg  me  so  much,  I  will  some 
what  more  recite  :  [site ; 
I  say,  Carisophus  thy  master  is  a  flatt'ring  para- 
Gleaning  away  the  sweet  from  the  worthy  in  all 

the  court. 
What  tragedy  hath  he  moved  of  late?  the  devil 

take  him  !  he  doth  much  hurt. 
Jack.     I   pray  you,  what  is  Aristippus  thy 

master,  is  not  he  a  parasite  too, 
That  with   scoffing  and   jesting   in   the  court 

makes  so  much  a-do? 
Will.     He   is    no   parasite,    but   a   pleasant 

gentleman  full  of  courtesy. 
Thy  master  is  a  churlish  lout,  the  heir  of  a 

dungfork ;  as  void  of  honesty 
As  thou  art  of  honour. 

Jack.     Nay,  if  you  will  needs  be  prating  of 

my  master  still,  [Will : 

In  faith  I  must  cool  you,  my  friend,  dapper 

Take  this  at  the  beginning.  Strikes  him. 

Will.    Praise  well  your  winning,  my  pantacle 

is  as  ready  as  yours. 
Jack.     By  the  mass,  I  will  box  you. 
Will.     By  Cock,  I  will  fox  you. 
Jack.     Will,  was  I  with  you? 
Will.     Jack,  did  I  fly?  [weak. 

Jack.     Alas,    pretty    cockerel,    you    are   too 
Will.     In  faith,  doating  dottrel,  you  will  cry 
creak. 

Here  entereth  Snap. 

Snap.     Away,  you  crack-ropes,  are  you  fight 
ing  at  the  court-gate?  [both  :  what! 
And  I  take  you  here  again  I  will  swinge  you 

Exit. 


Damon  and  Pithias  53 

Jack.     I    beshrew    Snap    the    tipstaff,    that 

great  knave's  heart,  that  hither  did  come. 

Had  he  not  been,  you  had  cried  ere  this,  Victus, 

victa,  victum: 
But  seeing  we  have  breathed  ourselves,  if  ye 

list, 
Let  us  agree  like  friends,  and  shake  each  other 

by  the  fist. 
Will.    Content  am  I,  for  I  am  not  malicious; 

but  on  this  condition, 

That  you  talk  no  more  so  broad  of  my  master 

as  here  you  have  done.  [yonder. 

But  who  have  we  here?     Cobex  epi  coming 

Jack.     Will,  let  us  slip  aside  and  view  him 

well. 

Here      entereth      Grim      the      Collier, 

whistling. 

Grim.     What  devil !  ich  ween  the  porters  are 

drunk,  will  they  not  dup  the  gate  to-day? 

[To]  take  in  coals  for  the  king's  own  mouth; 

will  nobody  stir,  I  say?  [bed, 

Ich  might  have  lain  tway  hours  longer  in  my 

Cha  tarried  so  long  here,  that  my  teeth  chatter 

in  my  head. 
Jack.     Will,  after  our  falling  out  wilt  thou 

laugh  merrily? 

Will.     Ay,  marry,  Jack,  I  pray  thee  heartily. 

Jack.     Then  follow  me,  and  hem  in  a  word 

now  and  then —  [so  early? 

What  brawling  knave  is  there  at  the  court-gate 

Will.     It  is  some  brainsick  villain,   I  durst 

lay  a  penny.  [trow, 

Jack.     It  was  you,  sir,  that  cried  so  loud,  I 

And  bid  us  take  in  coals  for  the  king's  mouth 

even  now? 
Grim.     'Twas  I,  indeed. 


54 


Damon  and  Pithias 


Jack.     Why,  sir,  how  dare  you  speak  such 

petty  treason? 
Doth  the  king  eat  coals  at  any  season? 

Grim.     Here  is  a  gay  world  !  boys  now  sets 
old  men  to  school.  [cham  a  fool? 

I  said  well  enough  :  what,  Jack-sauce,  think 'st 
At  bakehouse,  butt'ry-hatch,  kitchen,  and  cellar, 
Do  they  not  say  for  the  king's  mouth? 
Will.     What,  then,  goodman  collier? 
Grim.     What,    then !    seeing   without   coals 

thee  cannot  finely  dress  the  king's  meat, 
May  I  not  say,  take  in  coals  for  the  king's 

mouth,  though  coals  he  do  not  eat? 
Jack.     James    Christe !    came   ever    from    a 

collier  an  answer  so  trim? 
You  are  learned,  are  you  not,  father  Grim? 
Grim.     Grim  is  my  name  indeed,  cham  not 

learned,  and  yet  the  king's  collier  : 
This    vorty    winter   cha    been    to    the    king    a 

servitor, 
Though  I  be  not  learned,  yet  cha  mother-wit 

enough,  whole  and  some. 
Will.  So  it  seems,  you  have  so  much  mother- 
wit,  that  you  lack  your  father's  wisdom. 
Grim.     Mass,  cham  well-beset,  here's  a  trim 

cast  of  murlons. 
What  be  you,  my  pretty  cockerels,  that  ask  me 

these  questions? 
Jack.     Good    faith,    Master    Grim,    if    such 

merlins  on  your  pouch  may  light, 
They  are  so  quick  of  wing  that  quickly  they 

can  carry  it  out  of  your  sight; 
And  though  we  are  cockerels  now,   we  shall 

have  spurs  one  day, 

And  shall  be  able  perhaps  to  make  you  a  capon 
[to  your  pay.] 


Damon  and  Pithias  55 

But  to  tell  you  the  truth,  we  are  the  porter's 

men,  which  early  and  late 
Wait  on  such  gentlemen  as  you  to  open  the 

court-gate. 

Grim.     Are  ye  servants  then? 
Will.     Yea,  sir;  are  we  not  pretty  men? 
Grim.     Pretty  men,  quoth  you?  nay,  you  are 
strong  men,  else  you  could  not  bear  these 
breeches. 
Will.     Are  these  such  great  hose?  in  faith, 

goodman  collier,  you  see  with  your  nose  : 
By  mine  honesty,  I  have  but  one  lining  in  one 

hose,  but  seven  ells  of  rug. 
Grim.     This  is  but  a  little,  yet  it  makes  thee 

seem  a  great  bug. 
Jack.     How  say  you,  goodman  collier,  can 

you  find  any  fault  here? 
Grim.     Nay,  you  should  find  fau't;  marry, 

here's  trim  gear ! 

Alas,  little  knave,  dost  not  sweat?  thou  goest 
with  great  pain,  [thee  plain ; 

These  are  no  hose,  but  water-bougets,   I  tell 
Good  for  none  but  such  as  have  no  buttocks. 
Did  you  ever  see  two  such  little  Robin  ruddocks 
So  laden  with  breeches  ?  chill  say  no  more,  lest 
I  offend.  [ghostly  end, 

Who  invented  these  monsters  first,  did  it  to  a 
To  have  a  mail  ready  to  put  in  other  folks' 
We  see  this  evident  by  daily  proof.  [stuff, 

One  preached  of  late  not  far  hence  in  no  pulpit, 

but  in  a  wain-cart, 

That  spake  enough  of  this ;  but  for  my  part 
Chill  say  no  more :  your  own  necessity 
In  the  end  will  force  you  to  find  some  remedy. 
Jack.     Will,  hold  this  railing  knave  with  a 
talk,  when  I  am  gone  : 


Damon  and  Pithias 

I   will  fetch  him  his   filling   ale  for  his  good 

sermon.  Exit. 

Will.     Go  thy  way,  father  Grim,  gaily  well 

you  do  say, 

It  is  but  young  men's  folly,  that  list  to  play, 
And    mask   awhile   in   the   net   of   their   own 

device ; 

When  they  come  to  your  age,  they  will  be  wise. 
Grim.     Bum   troth,    but   few   such    roisters 

come  to  my  years  at  this  day ; 
They  be  cut  off  betimes,  ere  they  have  gone 

half  their  journey  : 

I  will  not  tell  why :  let  them  guess  that  can,  I 
mean  somewhat  thereby. 

[Enter  Jack  with  a  pot  of  wine,  and  a 

cup  to  drink  on. 

Jack.     Father  Grim,   because  you  are  stir 
ring  so  early,  [you  merry. 
I  have  brought  you  a  bowl  of  wine  to  make 
Grim.     Wine,    marry !    this    is   welcome   to 

colliers,  chill  swap't  off  by  and  by  : 
Chwas  stirring  so  early,  that  my  very  soul  is 

dry. 
Jack.     This  is  stoutly  done :  will  you  have 

it  warmed,  father  Grim? 
Grim.     No;  it  is  warm  enough;  it  is  very 

lousious  and  trim. 

'Tis  musselden,  ich  ween ;  of  fellowship  let  me 

have  another  spurt,  [shirt. 

Ich  can  drink  as  easily  now,  as  if  I  sat  in  my 

Jack.     By  Cock,  and  you  shall  have  it;  but 

I  will  begin,  and  that  anon, 
Jebit  avow  mon  compagnon. 

Grim.     Jhar  vow  pleadge  pety  Zawne. 
Jack.     Can   you   speak   French?   here   is   a 
trim  collier,  by  this  day  ! 


Damon  and  Pithias  57 

Grim.     What  man  !   ich  learned  this  when 

ich  was  a  soldier;  [whip  trimly, 

When  ich  was  a  lusty  fellow,  and  could  yerk  a 

Better   than    these   boy-colliers    that  come  to 

the  court  daily  :  [as  now, 

When  there  were  not  so  many  captious  fellows 

That  would  torup  men  for  every  trifle,  I  wot 

not  how  : 

As  there  was  one  Damon,  not  long  since  taken 

for  a  spy ;  [to  die. 

How  justly  I  know  not,  but  he  was  condemned 

Will  (aside).     This  wine  hath  warmed  him, 

this  comes  well  to  pass, 
We  shall  know  all  now,  for  in  vino  veritas. 
Father  Grim,  who  accused  this  Damon  to  King 

Dionysius? 
Grim.     A    vengeance    take    him !    'twas    a 

gentleman,  one  Master  Crowsphus. 
Will.     Crowsphus  !  you  clip  the  king's  lan 
guage,  you  would  have  said  Carisophus. 
But  I  perceive  now  either  the  wind  is  at  the 
south,  [your  mouth. 

Or  else  your  tongue  cleaveth  to  the  roof  of 
Grim.     A  murrain  take  thik  wine,  it  so  in 
toxicate  my  brain,  [plain. 
That  to  be  hanged  by  and  by  I  cannot  speak 
Jack.     You  speak  knavishly  plain,  seeing  my 

master  you  do  mock  : 
In  faith,  ere  you  go,  I  will  make  you  a  lobcock. 

Aside. 

Father  Grim,   what  say  they  of  this   Damon 

abroad?  [God. 

Grim.    All  men  are  sorry  for  him,  so  help  me 

They  say  a  false  knave  'cused  him  to  the  king 

wrongfully ;  [to  die, 

And  he  is  gone,  and  should  be  here  to-morrow 


Damon  and  Pithias 

Or  else  his  fellow,  which  is  in  prison,  his  room 

shall  supply.  [y°u  plain, 

Chill  not  be  his  half  for  vorty  shillings,  I  tell 
I  think  Damon  be  too  wise  to  return  again. 
Will.     Will  no  man  speak  for  them  in  this 

woful  case? 
Grim.     No,   chill  warrant  you,  one  Master 

Stippus  is  in  place,  [so, 

Where  he  may  do  good,  but  he  frames  himself 
Whatsoever  Dionysius  willeth  to  that  he  will 

not  say  no : 
Tis  a  subtle  vox,  he  will  not  tread  on  thorns 

for  none, 

A   merry   harecop    'tis,    and   a   pleasant   com 
panion  ; 

A  right  courtier,  and  can  provide  for  one. 
Jack.     Will,  how  like  you  this  gear?  your 

master  Aristippus  also 
At  this  collier's  hand  hath  had  a  blow  ! 
But  in  faith,  father  Grim,  cannot  ye  colliers 
Provide     for     yourselves     far      better     than 

courtiers?  "[threadbare  coats, 

Grim.     Yes,    I    trow :    black   colliers   go   in 

Yet  so  provide  they,  that  they  have  the  fair 

white  groats.  [in  dirt, 

Ich  may  say  in  counsel,  though  all  day  I  moil 
Chill  not  change  lives  with  any  in  Dionysius' 

court : 

For  though  their  apparel  be  never  so  fine, 
Yet  sure  their  credit  is  far  worse  than  mine. 
And,  by  Cock,   I  may  say,  for  all  their  high 

looks,  [books : 

I   know  some  sticks   full  deep   in   merchants' 
And  deeper  will  fall  in,  as  fame  me  tells, 
As   long   as   instead   of  money   they   take   up 

hawks'  hoods  and  bells  : 


Damon  and  Pithias  59 

Whereby    they    fall    into   a   swelling    disease, 

which  colliers  do  not  know; 
'T'ath  a  mad  name :   it  is  called,   ich  ween, 

Centum  pro  cento. 
Some    other    in    courts    make    others    laugh 

merrily,  [secretly. 

When  they  wail  and  lament  their  own  estate 
Friendship   is   dead   in   court,   hypocrisy   doth 

reign ; 

Who  is  in  favour  now,  to-morrow  is  out  again  : 
The  state  is  so  uncertain  that  I,  by  my  will, 
Will  never  be  courtier,  but  a  collier  still. 
Will.     It  seemeth  that  colliers  have  a  very 

trim  life.  [troth, 

Grim.     Colliers  get  money  still :  tell  me  of 

Is  not  that  a  trim  life  now,  as  the  world  go'th? 

All  day,  though  I  toil  with  my  main  and  might, 

With  money  in  my  pouch  I  come  home  merry 

at  night,  [Alison, 

And   sit  down  in  my  chair  by  my  wife  fair 
And  turn  a  crab  in  the  fire,  as  merry  as  Pope 

John. 
Jack.     That   pope  was   a   merry  fellow,   of 

whom  folk  talk  so  much. 
Grim.     H'ad  to  be  merry  withal,  h'ad  gold 

enough  in  his  hutch. 
Jack.     Can  gold  make  men  merry?  they  say, 

who  can  sing  so  merry  a  note 
As  he  that  is  not  able  to  change  a  groat? 
Grim.     Who  sings  in  that  case,  sings  never 

in  tune.     I  know  for  my  part 
That  a  heavy  pouch  with  gold  makes  a  light 

heart ; 
Of  which  I  have  provided  for  a  dear  year  good 

store,  [more. 

And  these  benters,  I  trow,  shall  anon  get  me 


6o 


Damon  and  Pithias 


Will.     By  serving  the  court  with  coals  you 

gain'd  all  this  money? 
Grim.     By  the  court  only,  I  assure  ye. 
Jack.     After  what  sort,  I  pray  thee  tell  me? 
Grim.     Nay,    there   bate   me   an   ace   (quod 
Bolton);   I  can  wear  a  horn  and  blow  it 
not. 

Jack.     By'r  Lady,  the  wiser  man. 
Grim.     Shall  I  tell  you  by  what  sleight  I  got 
all  this  money?  [warrant  ye. 

Then    ich   were   a    noddy   indeed ;    no,    no,    I 
Yet  in  few  words  I  tell  you  this  one  thing, 
He  is  a  very  fool  that  cannot  gain  by  the  king. 
Witt.     Well  said,   father  Grim :   you  are  a 

wily  collier  and  a  brave, 

I  see  now  there  is  no  knave  to  the  old  knave. 
Grim.     Such     knaves     have    money    when 

courtiers  have  none. 

But  tell  me,  is  it  true  that  abroad  is  blown? 
Jack.     What  is  that? 
Grim.     Hath    the    king    made    those    fair 

damsels  his  daughters 
To  become  now  fine  and  trim  barbers  ? 
Jack.     Yea,  truly,  to  his  own  person. 
Grim.     Good  fellows,  believe  me,  as  the  case 

now  stands/ 
I  would  give  one  sack  of  coals  to  be  wash'd 

at  their  hands, 
If  ich  came  so  near  them,  for  my  wit  chould 

not  give  three  chips 

If  ich  could  not  steal  one  swap  at  their  lips. 
Jack.     Will,  this  knave  is  drunk,  let  us  dress 

him. 
Let  us  rifle  him  so  that  he  have  not  one  penny 

to  bless  him, 
And  steal  away  his  debenters  too.       [Aside. 


Damon  and  Pithias  61 

Witt.     Content :  invent  the  way,  and  I  am 

ready. 
Jack.     Faith,  and  I  will  make  him  a  noddy. 

Aside. 

Father  Grim,  if  you  pray  me  well,  I  will  wash 

you  and  shave  you  too,        [daughters  do  : 

Even   after   the  same   fashion   as   the   king's 

In  all  points  as  they  handle  Dionysius,  I  will 

dress  you  trim  and  fine. 
Grim.     Chuld    vain    learn    that :    come    on 
then,  chill  give  thee  a  whole  pint  of  wine 
At  tavern  for  thy  labour,  when  cha  money  for 
my  benters  here. 

Here  Will  fetcheth  a  barber's  basin,  a 

pot  with  water,  a  razor,  and  cloths, 

and  a  pair  of  spectacles. 

Jack.     Come,    mine   own   father   Grim,   sit 

down.  [chair. 

Grim.     Mass,  to  begin  withal,  here  is  a  trim 

Jack.     What,   man,    I   will  use  you   like  a 

prince.     Sir  boy,  fetch  me  my  gear. 
Will.     Here,  sir. 
Jack.     Hold  up,  father  Grim. 
Grim.     Me-seem  my  head  doth  swim. 
Jack.     My  costly  perfumes  made  that.    Away 

with  this,  sir  boy  :  be  quick. 
Aloyse,  aloyse,  how,  how  pretty  it  is !  is  not 

here  a  good  face? 

A  fine  owl's  eyes,  a  mouth  like  an  oven. 
Father,  you  have  good  butter-teeth  full  seen. 
[Aside]  You  were  weaned,  else  you  would  have 
been  a  great  calf.  [chin 

Ah  trim  lips  to  sweep  a  manger!  here  is  a 
As  soft  as  the  hoof  of  an  horse. 

Grim.     Doth   the   king's   daughters   rub   so 
hard? 


62 


Damon  and  Pithias 


Jack.     Hold  your  head  straight,  man,  else 

all  will  be  marr'd. 

By'r  Lady,  you  are  of  good  complexion, 
A  right  Croyden  sanguine,  beshrew  me.     [ye? 
Hold  up,  father  Grim.     Will,  can  you  bestir 
Grim.     Methinks,  after  a  marvellous  fashion 

you  do  besmear  me. 
Jack.     It    is    with    unguentum    of    Daucus 

Maucus,  that  is  very  costly  : 
I  give  not  this  washing-ball  to  everybody. 
After  you  have  been  dress 'd  so  finely  at  my 

hand, 

You  may  kiss  any  lady's  lips  within  this  land. 
Ah,  you  are  trimly  wash'd  !  how  say  you,  is 

not  this  trim  water? 

Grim.     It    may    be    wholesome,    but    it    is 

vengeance  sour.  [my  razor. 

Jack.    It  scours  the  better.    Sir  boy,  give  me 

Will.     Here  at  hand,  sir. 

Grim.     God's  aymes  !  'tis  a  chopping  knife, 

'tis  no  razor.  [one ; 

Jack.     It  is  a  razor,  and  that  a  very  good 

It   came   lately    from    Pallarrime,   it   cost   me 

twenty  crowns  alone. 

Your  eyes  dazzle  after  your  washing,   these 

spectacles  put  on  :  [one  ? 

Now  view  this  razor,  tell  me,  is  it  not  a  good 

Grim.     They   be  gay   barnacles,   yet   I    see 

never  the  better. 
Jack.     Indeed  they  be  a  young  sight,   and 

that  is  the  matter ; 

But  I  warrant  you  this  razor  is  very  easy. 
Grim.     Go  to,  then ;  since  you  begun,  do  as 

please  ye. 

Jack.     Hold  up,  father  Grim. 
Grim.     O,  your  razor  doth  hurt  my  lip. 


Damon  and  Pithias  63 

Jack.     No,  it  scrapeth  off  a  pimple  to  ease 

you  of  the  pip.  [well? 

I  have  done  now,  how  say  you?  are  you  not 

Grim.     Cham  lighter  than  ich  was,  the  truth 

to  tell. 

Jack.     Will  you  sing  after  your  shaving? 
Grim.     Mass,    content;   but  chill   be   poll'd 

first,  ere  I  sing. 
Jack.     Nay,   that  shall   not  need;   you  are 

poll'd  near  enough  for  this  time. 
Grim.     Go  to  then  lustily,  I  will  sing  in  my 

man's  voice : 
Chave  a  troubling  base  buss. 

Jack.     You  are  like  to  bear  the  bob,  for  we 

will  give  it : 
Set  out  your  bussing  base,  and  we  will  quiddle 

upon  it.  Grim  singeth  Buss. 

Jack  sings.     Too  nidden  and  too  nidden. 
Will  sings.     Too  nidden  and  toodle  toodle 

doo  nidden ; 

Is  not  Grim  the  collier  most  finely  shaven? 
Grim.     Why,   my   fellows,   think   ich  am   a 

cow,  that  you  make  such  toying? 
Jack.     Nay,  by'r  Lady,  you  are  no  cow,  by 

your  singing ; 
Yet  your  wife  told  me  you  were  an  ox. 

Grim.     Did  she  so?  'tis  a  pestens  quean,  she 

is  full  of  such  mocks. 
But  go  to,  let  us  sing  out  our  song  merrily. 

[The  song  at  the  shaving  of  the  Collier. 
Jack.     Such   barbers    God   send   you   at   all 

times  of  need. 
Will.     That  can  dress  you  finely,  and  make 

such  quick  speed; 
Jack.     Your    face     like     an    inkhorn     now 

shineth  so  gay — 


Damon  and  Pithias 

Will.     That   I   with   your   nostrils    of  force 

must  needs  play, 

With  too  nidden  and  too  nidden.  [nidden. 

Jack.     With  too  nidden  and  todle  todle  doo 
Is  not  Grim  the  collier  most  finely  shaven? 
Will.     With  shaving  you  shine  like  a  pestle 

of  pork. 

Jack.     Here  is  the  trimmest  hog's  flesh  from 

London  to  York.  [awhile. 

Will.     It  would  be  trim  bacon  to  hang  up 

Jack.     To  play  with  this  hoglin  of  force  I 

must  smile, 
With  too  nidden  and  too  nidden. 

Will.     With  too  nidden  and  todle,  &c. 
Grim.     Your  shaving  doth  please  me,  I  am 

now  your  debtor. 
Will.      Your  wife  now  will  buss  you,  because 

you  are  sweeter. 

Grim.     Near  would  I  be  polled,  as  near  as 
cham  shaven.  [you  be  shaken. 

Will.     Then  out  of  your  jerkin  needs  must 
With  too  nidden  and  too  nidden,  &*c. 

Grim.     It  is  a  trim  thing  to  be  wash'd  in 

the  court. 

Will.     Their  hands   are   so   fine,    that   they 

never  do  hurt.  [was. 

Grim.     Me-think  ich  am  lighter  than  ever  ich 

Will.     Our     shaving     in     the     court     hath 

brought  this  to  pass. 

With  too  nidden  and  too  nidden.  [nidden. 

Jack.      With  too  nidden  and  todle  todle  doo 

Is  not  Grim  the  collier  most  finely  shaven? 

Grim.     This  is  trimly  done  :  now  chill  pitch 

my  coals  not  far  hence,  [tway  pence. 

And    then   at   the   tavern   shall    bestow   whole 

Exit  Grim. 


Damon  and  Pithias  65 

Jack.    Farewell  cock,  before  the  collier  again 

do  us  seek, 
Let  us  into  the  court  to  part  the  spoil,  share 

and  share  like. 
Witt.     Away  then, 

Exeunt. 

Here  entereth  Grim. 
Grim.     Out  alas,   where  shall   I   make  my 

moan? 

My  pouch,  my  benters,  and  all  is  gone; 
Where  is  that  villain  that  did  me  shave? 
H'ath  robbed  me,  alas,  of  all  that  I  have. 

Here  entereth  Snap. 

Snap.     Who  crieth  so  at  the  court-gate? 
Grim.     I,  the  poor  collier,  that  was  robbed 

of  late. 

Snap.     Who  robbed  thee? 
Grim.     Two  of  the  porter's  men  that  did 

shave  me. 
Snap.     Why,     the    porter's    men    are    no 

barbers. 
Grim.     A   vengeance   take   them,    they   are 

quick  carvers. 

Snap.     What  stature  were  they  of? 
Grim.     As    little    dapper    knaves    as    they 

trimly  could  scoff. 
Snap.     They  are  lackeys,  as  near  as  I  can 

guess  them. 
Grim.     Such    lackeys    make    me    lack;    an 

halter  beswinge  them  ! 
Cham  undone,  they  have  my  benters  too. 
Snap.     Dost  thou  know  them,  if  thou  seest 

them? 

Grim.     Yea,  that  I  do. 

Snap.     Then   come   with   me,    we   will   find 
them  out,  and  that  quickly. 

ED.  F 


66 


Damon  and  Pithias 


Grim.     I   follow,   mast  tipstaff;   they  be  in 

the  court,  it  is  likely. 
Snap.     Then  cry  no  more,  come  away. 

Exeunt. 
Here     enter eih    Carisophus    and    Aris- 

tippus. 

Caris.     If  ever  you  will  show  your  friend 
ship,  now  is  the  time, 
Seeing  the  king  is  displeased  with  me  of  my 

part  without  any  crime. 
Arist.     It  should  appear  it  comes  of  some 

evil  behaviour 

That  you  so  suddenly  are  cast  out  of  favour. 
Caris.     Nothing  have   I   done  but   this ;    in 
talk  I  overthwarted  Eubulus  [nysius, 

When  he  lamented  Pithias'  case  to  King  Dio- 
Which  to-morrow  shall  die,  but  for  that  false 
knave  Damon —  [is  gone. 

He  hath  left  his  friend  in  the  briars,  and  now 
We  grew  so  hot  in  talk,   that   Eubulus   pro 
tested  plainly, 

Which  held  his  ears  open  to  parasitical  flattery. 
And  now  in  the  king's  ear  like  a  bell  he  rings, 
Crying  that  flatterers  have  been  the  destroyers 

of  kings. 
Which  talk  in  Dionysius'  heart  hath  made  so 

deep  impression, 

That  he  trusteth  me  not,  as  heretofore,  in  no 
condition  :  [that  he 

And  some  words  brake  from  him,  as  though 
Began  to  suspect  my  truth  and  honesty, 
Which  you  of  friendship  I  know  will  defend, 
howsoever  the  world  goeth  :         [an  oath  ? 
My  friend — for  my  honesty  will  you  not  take 
Arist.     To  swear  for  your  honesty  I  should 
lose  mine  own. 


Damon  and  Pithias  67 

Cans.     Should    you   so,    indeed?     I    would 

that  were  known. 

Is  your  void  friendship  come  thus  to  pass? 
Arist.     I  follow  the  proverb  :  Amicus  usque 

ad  aras. 
Caris.     Where  can  you  say  I  ever  lost  mine 

honesty  ? 
Arist.     You  never  lost  it,  for  you  never  had 

it,  as  far  as  I  know. 
Caris.     Say  you  so,  friend  Aristippus,  whom 

I  trust  so  well? 
Arist.     Because  you  trust  me,   to  you   the 

truth  I  tell. 
Caris.     Will  you  not  stretch  one  point  to 

bring  me  in  favour  again? 
Arist.     I  love  no  stretching;  so  I  may  breed 

mine  own  pain. 
Caris.     A  friend  ought  to  shun  no  pain,  to 

stand  his  friend  in  stead. 
Arist.     Where  true  friendship  is,  it  is  so  in 

very  deed. 
Caris.     Why,  sir,  hath  not  the  chain  of  true 

friendship  linked  us  two  together? 
Arist.     The  chiefest  link  lacked  thereof,   it 

must  needs  dissever. 
Caris.     What    link    is    that?    fain    would    I 

know. 

Arist.     Honesty. 
Caris.     Doth  honesty  knit  the  perfect  knot 

in  true  friendship? 
Arist.     Yea,    truly,    and   that   knot   so   knit 

will  never  slip. 
Caris.     Belike,  then,  there  is  no  friendship 

but  between  honest  men. 
Arist.     Between     the     honest     only;     for, 

Amicitia  inter  bonos,  saith  a  learned  man. 

F    2 


68 


Damon  and  Pithias 


Cans.     Yet  evil  men  use  friendship  in  things 

unhonest,  where  fancy  doth  serve. 
Arist.     That   is   no   friendship,   but   a   lewd 

liking;  it  lasts  but  a  while. 
Cam.     What    is    the    perfectest    friendship 

among  men  that  ever  grew? 
Arist.   Where  men  loved  one  another,  not  for 

profit,  but  for  virtue. 
Cam.     Are  such  friends  both  alike  in  joy 

and  also  in  smart? 
Arist.     They  must  needs;  for  in  two  bodies 

they  have  but  one  heart. 
Cam.     Friend   Aristippus,    deceive   me  not 

with  sophistry  : 
Is   there  no  perfect  friendship,   but  where  is 

virtue  and  honesty? 

Arist.     What  a  devil  then  meant  Carisophus 
To  join  in  friendship  with  fine  Aristippus? 
In  whom  is  as  much  virtue,  truth  and  honesty, 
As  there  are  true  feathers  in  the  three  Cranes 

of  the  Vintry  : 

Yet  these  feathers  have  the  shadow  of  lively 
feathers,  the  truth  to  scan,      [honest  man. 
But   Carisophus   hath   not  the   shadow    of  an 
To  be  plain,  because  I  know  thy  villainy, 
In  abusing  Dionysius  to  many  men's  injury, 
Under  the  cloak  of  friendship   I   play'd  with 

his  head, 
And  sought  means  how  thou  with  thine  own 

fancy  might  be  led. 
My  friendship  thou   soughtest   for   thine  own 

commodity, 

As  worldly  men  do,  by  profit  measuring  amity  : 

Which    I    perceiving,    to    the    like    myself    I 

framed,  [blamed. 

Wherein   I   know  of  the  wise   I  shall  not  be 


Damon  and  Pithias  69 

If  you  ask  me,  Quare  ?  I  answer,  Quia  prudentis 

est  multum  dissimulare. 

To  speak  more  plainer,  as  the  proverb  doth  go, 
In  faith,  Carisophus,  cum  Cretense  cretizo. 
Yet  a  perfect  friend  I  show  myself  to  thee  in 

one  thing, 
I  do  not  dissemble  now  I  say  I  will  not  speak 

for  thee  to  the  king  :  [thee, 

Therefore  sink  in  thy  sorrow,  I  do  not  deceive 
A  false  knave  I  found  thee,  a  false  knave  I 

leave  thee.  Exit. 

Cans.     He  is  gone !   is   this   friendship,   to 

leave  his  friend  in  the  plain  field? 
Well,  I  see  now  I  myself  have  beguiled, 
In  matching  with  that  false  fox  in  amity, 
Which  hath  me  used  to  his  own  commodity : 
Which  seeing  me  in  distress,  unfeignedly  goes 

his  ways.  [now-a-days ; 

Lo,  this  is  the  perfect  friendship  among  men 
Which  kind  of  friendship  toward  him  I  used 

secretly ;  [craftily, 

And   he   with   me   the   like   hath   requited   me 
It  is  the  gods'  judgment,  I  see  it  plainly, 
For  all  the  world  may  know,  Incidi  in  foveam 

quam  fed.  [know, 

Well,  I  must  content  myself,  none  other  help  I 
Until  a  merrier  gale  of  wind  may  hap  to  blow. 

Exit. 

[Enter  Eubulus. 
Eubul.     Who   deals  with   kings  in   matters 

of  great  weight, 

When  f roward  will  doth  bear  the  chiefest  sway, 
Must   yield    of    force;    there    need    no   subtle 

sleight, 

Ne  painted  speech  the  matter  to  convey. 
No  prayer  can  move  when  kindled  is  the  ire. 


Damon  and  Pithias 

The  more  ye  quench,  the  more  increased  is  the 

fire. 

This  thing  I  prove  in  Pithias'  woful  case, 
Whose  heavy  hap  with  tears  I  do  lament : 
The  day  is  come,  when  he,  in  Damon's  place, 
Must  lose  his  life  :  the  time  is  fully  spent,  [vail, 
Nought  can  my  words  now  with  the  king  pre- 
Against  the  wind  and  striving  stream  I  sail : 
For  die  thou  must,  alas  !  thou  seely  Greek. 
Ah,  Pithias,  now  come  is  thy  doleful  hour : 
A  perfect  friend,  none  such  a  world  to  seek. 
Though  bitter  death  shall  give  thee  sauce  full 

sour, 

Yet  for  thy  faith  enroll  'd  shall  be  thy  name 
Among  the  gods  within  the  book  of  fame. 
Who  knoweth  his  case,  and  will  not  melt  in 

tears  ? 

His  guiltless  blood  shall  trickle  down  anon. 
Then  the  Muses  sing. 
Alas,  what  hap  hast  thou,  poor  Pithias,  now  to 

die! 
Woe  worth  the  man  which  for  his  death  hath 

given  us  cause  to  cry. 
Eubul.       Methink     I     hear,     with     yellow 

rented  hairs, 
The   Muses   frame    their   notes,    my    state    to 

moan : 
Among  which  sort,  as  one  that  mourneth  with 

heart, 
In  doleful  tunes  myself  will  bear  a  part. 

Muses.     Woe  worth  the  man  which  for  his 

death,  &*c. 
Eubul.     With  yellow  rented  hairs,  come  on, 

you  Muses  nine; 
Fill  now  my  breast  with  heavy  tunes,  to  me 

your  plaints  resign: 


Damon  and  Pithias  71 

For  Pithias  I  bewail,  which  presently  must  die, 
Woe  worth  the  man  which  for  his  death  hath 

given  us  cause,  &c. 
Muses.     Woe  worth  the  man  which  for  his, 


Eubul.     Was  ever  such  a  man,  that  would 

die  for  his  friend? 
I  think  even  from  the  heavens  above  the  gods 

did  him  down  send 
To  show  true  friendship's  power,  which  forc'd 

thee  now  to  die. 

Woe  worth  the  man  which  for  thy  death,  &>c. 
Muses.     Woe   worth   the    man,    &c. 
Eubul.      What   tiger's   whelp   was   he,    that 

Damon  did  accuse? 
What  faith  hast  thou,  which  for  thy  friend  thy 

death  doth  not  refuse? 

O  heavy  hap  hadst  thou  to  play  this  tragedy  I 
Woe  worth  the  man  which  for  thy  death,  &c. 
Muses.     Woe  worth  the  man,  &c. 
Eubul.     Thou    young    and    worthy     Greek, 

that  showeth  such  perfect  love, 

The   gods   receive   thy   simple   ghost  into   the 

heavens  above:  [ing  eye. 

Thy  death  we  shall  lament  with  many  a  weep- 

Woe  worth  the  man,  which  for  his  death,  &C. 

Muses.      Woe  worth  the  man,  which  for  thy 

death  hath  given  us  cause  to  cry.  Finis. 
Eubul.     Eternal  be  your  fame,  ye  Muses,  for 

that  in  misery 

Ye  did  vouchsafe  to  strain  your  notes  to  walk. 
My  heart  is  rent  in  two  with  this  miserable 

case, 
Yet  am  I  charged  by  Dionysius'  mouth  to  see 

this  place 
At  all  points  ready  for  the  execution  of  Pithias. 


Damon  and  Pithias 

Need  hath  no  law :  will  I  or  nill  I,  it  must  be 

done,  [hand. 

But  lo,   the  bloody  minister  is   even  here  at 

Enter  Gronno. 

Gronno,  I  came  hither  now  to  understand 
If  all  things  are  well  appointed  for  the  execu 
tion  of  Pithias. 
The  king  himself  will  see  it  done  here  in  this 

place. 
Gronno.     Sir,  all  things  are  ready;  here  is 

the  place,  here  is  the  hand,  here  is  the 

sword  : 
Here  lacketh  none  but  Pithias,  whose  head  at 

a  word, 

If  he  were  present,  I  could  finely  strike  off — 
You  may  report  that  all  things  are  ready. 
Eubul.     I  go  with  an  heavy  heart  to  report 

it.     Ah  woful  Pithias  ! 

Full  near  now  is  thy  misery.  [Exit. 

Gronno.     I  marvel  very  much,  under  what 

constellation 
All  hangmen  are  born,  for  they  are  hated  of 

all,  beloved  of  none ; 
Which     hatred     is     showed     by     this     point 

evidently : 
The  hangman  always  dwells  in  the  vilest  place 

of  the  city.  [why, 

That  such  spite  should  be,  I  know  no  cause 
Unless  it  be  for  their  office's  sake,  which  is 

cruel  and  bloody. 

Yet  some  men  must  do  it  to  execute  laws. 
Me-think  they  hate  me  without  any  just  cause. 
But  I  must  look  to  my  toil ;  Pithias  must  lose 

his  head  at  one  blow, 
Else  the  boys  will  stone  me  to  death  in  the 

street,  as  I  go. 


Damon  and  Pithias  73 

But  hark,  the  prisoner  cometh,  and  the  king 

also :  [forego. 

I  see  there  is  no  help,   Pithias  his  life  must 

Here  entereih  Dionysius  and  Eubulus. 
Diony.     Bring  forth  Pithias,   that  pleasant 

companion, 
Which  took  me  at  my  word,  and  became  pledge 

for  Damon. 

It  pricketh  fast  upon  noon,   I  do  him  no  in 
jury  [me, 
If  now  he  lose  his  head,  for  so  he  requested 
If  Damon  return  not,  which  now  in  Greece  is 

full  merry  : 
Therefore  shall  Pithias  pay  his  death,  and  that 

by  and  by.  [city, 

He  thought  belike,  if  Damon  were  out  of  the 
I  would  not  put  him  to  death  for  some  foolish 

pity  : 
But  seeing  it  was  his  request,  I  will  not  be 

mock'd,  he  shall  die; 
Bring  him  forth. 

Here  entereth  Snap. 
Snap.     Give   place;    let   the   prisoner   come 

by  5  g"*ve  place. 
Diony.     How  say  you,  sir;  where  is  Damon, 

your  trusty  friend  ?  [vow  : 

You  have  play'd  a  wise  part,   I  make  God  a 
You  know  what  time  a  day  it  is;  make  you 

ready. 
Pithias.     Most   ready   I   am,    mighty   king, 

and  most  ready  also 

For  my  true  friend  Damon  this  life  to  forego, 
Even  at  your  pleasure. 

Diony.     A  true  friend  !  a  false  traitor,  that 

so  breaketh  his  oath  !  [so  loth. 

Thou  shalt  lose  thy  life  though  thou  be  never 


74 


Damon  and  Pithias 


Pithias.     1  am  not  loth  to  do  whatsoever  I 

said,  [may'd : 

Ne  at  this  present  pinch  of  death  am   I  dis- 
The  gods  now  I  know  have  heard  my  fervent 

prayer,  [great  honour, 

That  they  have  reserved   me  to  this   passing 
To  die  for  my  friend,  whose  faith  even  now  I 

do  not  mistrust ;  [and  just : 

My  friend  Damon  is  no  false  traitor,  he  is  true 
But  sith  he  is  no  god,  but  a  man,  he  must  do 

as  he  may, 
The  wind  may  be  contrary,  sickness  may  let 

him,  or  some  misadventure  by  the  way, 
Which  the  eternal  gods  turn  all  to  my  glory, 
That  fame  may  resound  how  Pithias  for  Damon 

did  die  :  [can, 

He  breaketh  no  oath  which  doth  as  much  as  he 
His  mind  is  here,  he  hath  some  let,  he  is  but  a 

man.  [require, 

That  he  might  not  return  of  all  the  gods  I  did 
Which  now  to  my  joy  doth  grant  my  desire. 
But  why  do  I  stay  any  longer,  seeing  that  one 

man's  death 

May  suffice,  O  king,  to  pacify  thy  wrath? 
O  thou  minister  of  justice,  do  thine  office  by 

and  by,  [die. 

Let  not  thy  hand  tremble,  for  I  tremble  not  to 
Stephano,  the  right  pattern  of  true  fidelity, 
Commend  me  to  thy  master,  my  sweet  Damon, 

and  of  him  crave  liberty 
When  I  am  dead,  in  my  name;  for  thy  trusty 

services 

Hath  well  deserved  a  gift  far  better  than  this. 
O  my  Damon,  farewell  now  for  ever,  a  true 

friend,  to  me  most  dear;  [of  thee, 

Whiles  life  doth  last,  my  mouth  shall  still  talk 


Damon  and  Pithias  75 

And  when  I  am  dead,  my  simple  ghost,  true 

witness  of  amity,  [be. 

Shall  hover  about  the  place,  wheresoever  thou 

Diony.     Eubulus,  this  gear  is  strange;  and 

yet  because  [the  law. 

Damon  hath  fals'd  his  faith,  Pithias  shall  have 
Gronno,    despoil   him,    and   eke   dispatch   him 

quickly. 
Gronno.     It  shall  be  done;  since  you  came 

into  this  place  [space. 

I  might  have  stroken  off  seven  heads  in  this 
By'r  Lady,  here  are  good  garments,  these  are 

mine,  by  the  rood  ! 

It  is  an  evil  wind  that  bloweth  no  man  good. 
Now,   Pithias,   kneel   down,   ask  me  blessing 

like  a  pretty  boy, 
And  with  a  trice  thy  head  from  thy  shoulders 

I  will  convey. 

Here    entereth    Damon    running,    and 

stays  the  sword. 
Damon.     Stay,   stay,    stay !   for  the  king's 

advantage,  stay!  [fully  pass'd; 

O  mighty  king,  mine  appointed  time  is  not  yet 
Within  the  compass  of  mine  hour,  lo,  here  I 

come  at  last. 

A  life  I  owe,  and  a  life  I  will  you  pay : 
O  my  Pithias,  my  noble  pledge,  my  constant 

friend  ! 
Ah !  woe  is  me !  for  Damon's  sake,  how  near 

were  thou  to  thy  end  ! 
Give  place  to  me,  this  room  is  mine,  on  this 

stage  must  I  play. 
Damon  is  the  man,  none  ought  but  he  to  Dio- 

nysius  his  blood  to  pay. 
Gronno.     Are    you    come,    sir?    you    might 

have  tarried,  if  you  had  been  wise : 


76 


Damon  and  Pithias 


For  your  hasty  coming  you  are  like  to  know 

the  price. 
Pithias.     O  thou  cruel  minister,  why  didst 

not  thou  thine  office? 

Did  I  not  bid  thee  make  haste  in  any  wise? 
Hast  thou  spared  to  kill  me  once,  that  I  may 

die  twice? 
Not  to  die  for  my  friend  is  present  death  to 

me ;  and  alas  ! 
Shall  I  see  my  sweet  Damon  slain  before  my 

face?  [Dionysius, 

What   double   death   is   this  ?   but,    O  .  mighty 
Do  true  justice  now  :  weigh  this  aright,  thou 

noble  Eubulus; 
Let  me  have  no  wrong,   as   now   stands   the 

case : 

Damon  ought  not  to  die,  but  Pithias  : 
By  misadventure,  not  by  his  will,  his  hour  is 

past;  therefore  I, 
Because  he  came  not  at  his  just  time,  ought 

justly  to  die  :  [king, 

So  was  my  promise,  so  was  thy  promise,  O 
All  this  court  can  bear  witness  of  this  thing. 
Damon.     Not  so,  O  mighty  king  :  to  justice 

it  is  contrary, 
That    for    another    man's    fault    the   innocent 

should  die : 
Ne  yet  is  my  time  plainly  expired,   it  is  not 

fully  noon  [the  town. 

Of  this  my  day  appointed,  by  all  the  clocks  in 

Pithias.     Believe  no  clock,  the  hour  is  past 

by  the  sun. 
Damon.    Ah  my  Pithias,  shall  we  now  break 

the  bonds  of  amity? 
Will  you  now  overthwart  me,  which  heretofore 

so  well  did  agree? 


Damon  and  Pithias  77 

Pithias.     My  Damon,   the  gods   forbid   but 

we  should  agree; 
Therefore  agree  to  this,   let  me  perform  the 

promise  I  made  for  thee. 
Let  me  die  for  thee :  do  me  not  that  injury, 
Both  to  break  my  promise,  and  to  suffer  me  to 

see  thee  die,  [grant  me, 

Whom  so  dearly   I   love :    this   small   request 
I  shall  never  ask  thee  more,  my  desire  is  but 

friendly.  [triumphantly, 

Do    me   this    honour,    that   fame    may   report 
That  Pithias  for  his  friend  Damon  was  con 
tented  to  die. 
Damon.     That  you  were  contented  for  me  to 

die,  fame  cannot  deny;  [villainy, 

Yet  fame  shall  never  touch  me  with  such   a 
To   report   that   Damon   did   suffer  his    friend 

Pithias  for  him  guiltless  to  die ; 
Therefore  content  thyself,  the  gods  requite  thy 

constant  faith,  [nysius5  wrath. 

None   but   Damon's   blood   can   appease   Dio- 
And  now,   O  mighty  king,  to  you  my  talk  I 

convey ;  [to  stay, 

Because  you  gave  me  leave  my  worldly  things 
To  requite  that  good  turn,  ere  I  die,  for  your 

behalf  this  I  say  :  [decketh  so, 

Although    your    regal    state    dame     Fortune 
That  like  a  king  in  worldly  wealth  abundantly 

ye  flow,  [tread, 

Yet  fickle  is  the  ground  whereon  all  tyrants 
A  thousand  sundry  cares  and  fears  do  haunt 

their  restless  head. 
No  trusty  band,  no  faithful  friends  do  guard 

thy  hateful  state. 
And  why?  whom  men  obey  for  deadly  fear, 

sure  them  they  deadly  hate. 


Damon  and  Pithias 

That  you  may  safely  reign,  by  love  get  friends, 

whose  constant  faith 
Will  never  fail,  this  counsel  gives  poor  Damon 

at  his  death. 
Friends  are  the  surest  guard  for  kings,  golden 

time  do  wear  away, 
And  other  precious  things  do  fade,  friendship 

will  never  decay.  [safely  sleep ; 

Have  friends  in  store  therefore,  so  shall  you 
Have  friends  at  home,  of  foreign  foes  so  need 

you  take  no  keep.  [never  tell  ; 

Abandon  flatt'ring  tongues,  whose  clacks  truth 
Abase  the  ill,  advance  the  good,  in  whom  dame 

virtue  dwells ;  [earthly  kings, 

Let   them   your   playfellows   be :    but   O,   you 
Your  sure  defence  and  strongest  guard  stands 

chiefly  in  faithful  friends. 
Then  get  you  friends  by   liberal   deeds;   and 

here  I  make  an  end.  [Pithias'  friend. 

Accept  this  counsel,  mighty  king,  of  Damon, 
O  my  Pithias  !  now  farewell  for  ever,  let  me 

kiss  thee  ere  I  die, 
My  soul  shall  honour  thee,  thy  constant  faith 

above  the  heavens  shall  fly. 
Come,  Gronno,  do  thine  office  now ;  why  is  thy 

colour  so  dead? 
My  neck  is  so  short,  that  thou  wilt  never  have 

honesty  in  striking  off  this  head. 
Diony.     Eubulus,    my   spirits    are   suddenly 

appalled,  my  limbs  wax  weak  : 
This  strange  friendship  amazeth  me  so,  that  I 

can  scarce  speak. 
Pithias.     O  mighty  king,  let  some  pity  your 

noble  heart  meve; 
You  require  but  one  man's  death ;  take  Pithias, 

let  Damon  live. 


Damon  and  Pithias  79 

Eubul.     O  unspeakable  friendship  ! 
Damon.     Not  so,  he  hath  not  offended,  there 

is  no  cause  why  [should  die. 

My  constant  friend  Pithias  for  Damon's  sake 
Alas,  he  is  but  young,  he  may  do  good  to 

many.  [me  die? 

Thou  coward  minister,  why  dost  thou  not  let 

Gronno.     My      hand      with      sudden      fear 

quivereth. 
Pithias.     O  noble  king,   show   mercy  upon 

Damon,  let  Pithias  die. 
Diony.     Stay,  Gronno,  my  flesh  trembleth. 

Eubulus,  what  shall  I  do?  [these  two? 
Were  there  ever  such  friends  on  earth  as  were 
What  heart  is  so  cruel  that  would  divide  them 

asunder?  [wonder. 

O  noble  friendship,  I  must  yield  !  at  thy  force  I 
My  heart  this  rare  friendship  hath  pierc'd  to 

the  root, 
And   quenched   all  my  fury :    this   sight   hath 

brought  this  about, 
Which  thy  grave  counsel,  Eubulus,  and  learned 

persuasion  could  never  do. 
To  Damon  and  Pithias.     O  noble  gentlemen, 

the  immortal  gods  above          [my  behoof  : 
Hath  made  you  play  this  tragedy,  I  think,  for  s 
Before   this   day   I    never   knew   what  perfect 

friendship  meant.  [wholly  bent. 

My  cruel  mind  to  bloody  deeds  was  full  and 
My  fearful  life  I  thought  with  terror  to  defend, 
But  now  I  see  there  is  no  guard  unto  a  faithful 

friend,  [need : 

Which  will  not  spare  his  life  at  time  of  present 

0  happy  kings,  who  in  your  courts  have  two 

such  friends  indeed  !  [plainly  see, 

1  honour  friendship  now,  which  that  you  may 


8o 


Damon  and  Pithias 


Damon,  have  thou  thy  life,  from  death  I  pardon 

thee;  [me  lend. 

For  which  good  turn,  I  crave,  this  honour  do 
O  friendly  heart,  let  me  link  with  you,  to  you 

make  me  the  third  friend. 
My  court  is  yours ;  dwell  here  with  me,  by  my 

commission  large, 
Myself,   my  realm,   my  wealth,   my  health,    I 

commit  to  your  charge  :  [that  thing, 

Make  me  a  third  friend,  more  shall  I  joy  in 
Than   to   be   called,   as   I   am,   Dionysius   the 

mighty  king. 
Damon.     O  mighty  king,   first  for  my  life 

most  humble  thanks  I  give, 
And  next,  I  praise  the  immortal  gods  that  did 

your  heart  so  meve,  [heavenly  lore, 

That  you  would  have  respect  to  friendship's 
Foreseeing  well  he  need  not  fear  which  hath 

true  friends  in  store. 
For   my   part,    most   noble    king,    as    a   third 

friend,  welcome  to  our  friendly  society ; 
But  you  must  forget  you  are  a  king,  for  friend 
ship  stands  in  true  equality.          [sessions, 
Diony.     Unequal  though  I  be  in  great  pos- 
Yet  full  equal  shall  you  find  me  in  my  changed 

conditions.  [away ; 

Tyranny,  flattery,  oppression,  lo,  here  I  cast 
Justice,    truth,    love,    friendship,    shall   be   my 

joy.  [end ; 

True  friendship  will  I  honour  unto  my  life's 
My  greatest  glory  shall  be  to  be  counted   a 

perfect  friend. 
Pithias.     For    this    your   deed,    most    noble 

king,  the  gods  advance  your  name, 
And   since  to   friendship's   lore  you   list   your 

princely  heart  to  frame, 


Damon  and  Pithias  81 

With  joyful  heart,  O  king,  most  welcome  now 

to  me, 

With  you  will  I  knit  the  perfect  knot  of  amity. 
Wherein  I  shall  instruct  you  so,   and  Damon 

here  your  friend, 

That  you  may  know  of  amity  the  mighty  force, 

and  eke  the  joyful  end  :  [ground, 

And   how   that  kings   do  stand   upon   a  fickle 

Within  whose  realm  at  time  of  need  no  faithful 

friends  are  found. 
Diony.     Your  instruction   will    I   follow;   to 

you  myself  I  do  commit. 
Eubulus,  make  haste  to  fet  new  apparel,  fit 
For  my  new  friends. 

Eubul.     I   go  with  joyful  heart.     O  happy 

day  !  [Aside.]  Exit. 

Gronno.     I    am    glad    to    hear    this    word. 

Though  their  lives  they  do  not  lese, 
No  reason  the  hangman  should  lose  his  fees  : 
These  are  mine,  I  am  gone  with  a  trice. 

Exit. 
Here     entereth     Eubulus     with     new 

garments. 
Diony.     Put  on  these  garments  now;  go  in 

with  me,  the  jewels  of  my  court. 
Damon   and   Pithias.     We   go    with    joyful 

hearts. 
Steph.     O  Damon,  my  dear  master,  in  all 

this  joy  remember  me. 

Diony.    My  friend  Damon,  he  asketh  reason. 
Damon.     Stephano,  for  thy  good  service  be 
thou  free. 

Exeunt  Dion  [and  all  but  Stephano]. 
Steph.     O  most  happy,  pleasant,  joyful,  and 

triumphant  day  ! 

Poor  Stephano  now  shall  live  in  continual  joy  : 
ED.  G 


82 


Damon  and  Pithias 


Vive    le    roy,    with    Damon    and    Pithias,    in 

perfect  amity, 

Vive  tu,  Stephano,  in  thy  pleasant  liberality  : 
Wherein  I  joy  as  much  as  he  that  hath  a  con 
quest  won, 
I   am  a  free  man,   none  so  merry  as   I   now 

under  the  sun. 
Farewell,  my  lords,  now  the  gods  grant  you  all 

the  sum  of  perfect  amity, 
And  me  long  to  enjoy  my  long-desired  liberty. 

Exit. 
Here    entereth    Eubulus    beating    Can- 

sophus. 

Away,  villain  !  away,  you  flatt'ring  parasite  ! 
Away,    the   plague    of    this    court !    thy    filed 

tongue,  that  forged  lies, 

No  more  here  shall  do  hurt :  away,  false  syco 
phant  !  wilt  thou  not  ? 
Cam.     I  am  gone,  sir,  seeing  it  is  the  king's 

pleasure. 
Why  whip  ye  me  alone?  a  plague  take  Damon 

and  Pithias  !  since  they  came  hither 
I  am  driven  to  seek  relief  abroad,  alas  !  I  know 

not  whither. 
Yet,   Eubulus,    though    I    be   gone,    hereafter 

time  shall  try, 
There  shall  be  found  even  in  this  court  as  great 

flatterers  as  I. 
Well,    for   a   while    I    will   forego   the   court, 

though  to  my  great  pain  : 
I  doubt  not  but  to  spy  a  time,  when  I  may 

creep  in  again.  Exit. 

Eubulus.     The  serpent  that  eats  men  alive, 

flattery,  with  all  her  brood, 
Is  whipp'd  away  in  princes'  courts,  which  yet 

did  never  good. 


Damon  and  Pithias  83 

What  force,  what  mighty  power  true  friend 
ship  may  possess,  [doth  express  : 

To  all  the  world  Dionysius'  court  now  plainly 

Who  since  to  faithful  friends  he  gave  his 
willing  ear, 

Most  safely  sitteth  on  his  seat,  and  sleeps 
devoid  of  fear.  [ent'red  in, 

Purged  is  the  court  of  vice,   since  friendship 

Tyranny  quails,  he  studieth  now  with  love  each 
heart  to  win. 

Virtue  is  had  in  price,  and  hath  his  just 
reward ; 

And  painted  speech,  that  gloseth  for  gain,  from 
gifts  is  quite  debarr'd. 

One  loveth  another  now  for  virtue,  not  for 
gain ; 

Where  virtue  doth  not  knit  the  knot,  there 
friendship  cannot  reign ; 

Without  the  which  no  house,  no  land,  no 
kingdom  can  endure,  [fire, 

As  necessary  for  man's  life  as  water,  air,  and 

Which  frameth  the  mind  of  man  all  honest 
things  to  do.  [consents  thereto. 

Unhonest  things  friendship  ne  craveth,  ne  yet 

In  wealth  a  double  joy,  in  woe  a  present  stay, 

A  sweet  companion  in  each  state  true  friend 
ship  is  alway. 

A  sure  defence  for  kings,  a  perfect  trusty  band, 

A  force  to  assail,  a  shield  to  defend  the 
enemies'  cruel  hand ; 

A  rare  and  yet  the  greatest  gift  that  God  can 
give  to  man ; 

So  rare,  that  scarce  four  couple  of  faithful 
friends  have  been,  since  the  world  began. 

A  gift  so  strange  and  of  such  price,  I  wish  all 
kings  to  have ; 

G    2 


84  Damon  and  Pithias 

But   chiefly   yet,   as   duty   bindeth,    I   humbly 

crave, 
True  friendship  and  true  friends,  full  fraught 

with  constant  faith, 
The  giver  of  all  friends,  the  Lord,  grant  her, 

most  noble  Queen  Elizabeth. 

The  Last  Song. 

The  strongest  guard  that  kings  can  have 
Are  constant  friends  their  state  to  save: 
True  friends  are  constant  both  in  word  and 

deed, 

True  friends  are  present,  and  help  at  each  need : 
True  friends  talk  truly,  they  glose  for  no  gain, 
When  treasure  consumeth,  true  friends  will 

remain  ; 
True  friends  for  their  true  prince  refuseth  not 

their  death: 
The  Lord  grant  her  such  friends,  most  noble 

Queen  Elizabeth. 

Long  may  she  govern  in  honour  and  wealth, 

Void  of  all  sickness,  in  most  perfect  health; 

Which  health  to  prolong,  as  true  friends  re 
quire, 

God  grant  she  may  have  her  own  heart's 
desire : 

Which  friends  will  defend  with  most  steadfast 
faith,  [Queen  Elizabeth. 

The  Lord  grant  her  such  friends,  most  noble 

FINIS. 


THE  TRAGEDY 

OF 

FERREX  and  PORREX 


SET     FORTH     WITHOUT     ADDITION     OR     ALTERA 
TION,    BUT    ALTOGETHER  AS   THE   SAME  WAS 
SHOWED        ON        STAGE        BEFORE      THE 

QUEEN'S    MAJESTY,    ABOUT   NINE 

YEARS  PAST,  VIZ.,  THE  1 8TH 

DAY  OF  JANUARY,  1561 

BY  THE  GENTLEMEN 

OF  THE  INNER- 
TEMPLE 


THE    PUBLISHER]    TO    THE 
READER 

WHERE  this  tragedy  was  for  furniture  of  part  of  the 
grand  Christmas  in  the  Inner-Temple  first  written 
about  nine  years  ago  by  the  Right  Honourable  Thomas, 
now  Lord  Buckhurst,  and  by  T.  Norton,  and  after 
showed  before  her  Majesty,  and  never  intended  by  the 
authors  thereof  to  be  published  :  yet  one  W.G.  getting  a 
copy  thereof  at  some  young  man's  hand  that  lacked  a 
little  money  and  much  discretion,  in  the  last  great 
plague,  A.M.  1563,  about  five  years  past,  while  the  said 
Lord  was  out  of  England,  and  T.  Norton  far  out  of 
London,  and  neither  of  them  both  made  privy,  put  it 
forth  exceedingly  corrupted  :  even  as  if  by  means  of  a 
broker  for  hire,  he  should  have  enticed  into  his  house  a 
fair  maid  and  done  her  villany,  and  after  all  to  have  be- 
scratched  her  face,  torn  her  apparel,  berayed  and  dis 
figured  her,  and  then  thrust  her  out  of  doors  dis- 
honested.  In  such  plight,  after  long  wandering,  she 
came  at  length  home  to  the  sight  of  her  friends,  who 
scant  knew  her  but  by  a  few  tokens  and  marks  remain 
ing.  They,  the  authors  I  mean,  though  they  were  very 
much  displeased  that  she  so  ran  abroad  without  leave, 
whereby  she  caught  her  shame,  as  many  wantons  do, 
yet  seeing  the  case  as  it  is  remediless,  have  for  common 
honesty  and  shamefacedness  new  apparelled,  trimmed 
and  attired  her  in  such  form  as  she  was  before.  In 
which  better  form  since  she  hath  come  to  me,  I  have 
harboured  her  for  her  friends'  sake  and  her  own  ;  and 
I  do  not  doubt,  her  parents  the  authors  will  not  now 
be  discontent  that  she  go  abroad  among  you,  good 
readers,  so  it  be  in  honest  company.  For  she  is  by  my 
encouragement  Mid  others  soniewhat  less  ashamed  of 
the  dishonesty  done  to  her  because  it  was  by  fraud  and 
force.  If  she  be  welcome  among  you,  and  gently  en- 


\ 


The  Argument  of  the  Tragedy  87 

tertained,  in  favour  of  the  house  from  whence  she  is 
descended,  and  of  her  own  nature  courteously  disposed 
to  offend  no  man,  her  friends  will  thank  you  for  it. 
If  not,  but  that  she  shall  be  still  reproached  with  her 
former  mishap,  or  quarrelled  at  by  envious  persons, 
she,  poor  gentlewoman,  will  surely  play  Lucrece's  part, 
and  of  herself  die  for  shame ;  and  I  shall  wish,  that 
she  had  tarried  still  at  home  with  me,  where  she  was 
welcome :  for  she  did  never  put  me  to  more  charge, 
but  this  one  poor  black  gown  lined  with  white  that  I 
have  now  given  her  to  go  abroad  among  you  withal. 


THE  ARGUMENT  OF  THE  TRAGEDY 

GORBODUC,  King  of  Britain,  divided  his  realm  in_his 
lifetime  to  his  sons,  Ferrex  and  Porrex  :  the  sons  fell 
to  dissension  :  the  younger  killed  the  elder  :  the  mother 
that  more  dearly  loved  the  elder,  for  revenge  killed 
the  younger  :  the  people,  moved  with  the  cruelty  of  the 
fact,  rose  in  rebellion  and  slew  both  father  and  mother  : 
the  nobility  assembled,  and  most  terribly  destroyed  the 
rebels  :  and  afterwards,  for  want  of  issue  of  the  prince 
whereby  the  succession  of  the  crown  became  uncertain, 
they  fell  to  civil  war,  in  which  both  they  and  many  of 
their  issues  were  slain,  and  the  land  for  a  long  time 
almost  desolate  and  miserably  wasted. 


giant**  of  Hje 


GORBODUC,  King  of  Great  Britain 

VIDENA,  Queen,  and  Wife  to  King  Gorboduc 

FERREX,  Elder  Son  to  King  Gorboduc 

PORREX,  Younger  Son  to  King  Gorboduc 

CLOYTON,  Duke  of  Cornwall 

FERGUS,  Duke  of  Albany 

MANDUD,  Duke  of  Loegris 

GWENARD,  Duke  of  Cumberland 

EUBULUS,  Secretary  to  the  King 

AROSTUS,  a  Councillor  to  the  King 

DORDAN,  a  Councillor  assigned  by  the  King  to 
his  Eldest  Son  Ferrex 

PHILANDER,  a  Councillor  assigned  by  the  King 
to  his  Youngest  Son  Porrex.  Both  being  of 
the  old  King's  Council  before 

HERMON,  a  Parasite,  remaining  with  Ferrex 
TYNDAR,  a  Parasite,  remaining  with  Porrex 

NUNTIUS,  a  Messenger  of  the  Elder  Brother's 
Death 

NUNTIUS,  a  Messenger  of  Duke  Fergus'  rising 
in  Arms 


MARCELLA,    a 
Chamber 


Lady    of    the    Queen's    Privy 


CHORUS,  Four  Ancient  and  Sage  Men  of  Britain 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  FERREX 
AND  PORREX 

THE  ORDER  OF  THE  DUMB  SHOW  BEFORE  THE 
FIRST  ACT,  AND  THE  SIGNIFICATION  THEREOF 

FIRST  the  music  of  violins  began  to  play,  during 
which  came  in  upon  the  stage  six  wild  men  clothed  in 
leaves  ;  of  whom  the  first  bare  in  his  neck  a  faggot  of 
small  sticks,  which  they  all,  both  severally  and  to 
gether,  assayed  with  all  their  strength  to  break,  but  it 
could  not  be  broken  by  them.  At  the  length  one  of 
them  plucked  out  one  of  the  sticks  and  break  it  ;  and  the 
rest  plucking  out  all  the  other  sticks  one  after  another, 
did  easily  break  them,  the  same  being  severed  ;  which, 
being  conjoined,  they  had  before  attempted  in  vain. 
After  they  had  this  done,  they  departed  the  stage,  and 
the  music  ceased.  Hereby  was  signified,  that_a_jstate 
knit  in  unity,  doth  continue  strong  against  all  force  ; 
but,  being  divided,  is  easily  destroyed.  As  befell  upon  u  -.  V~>-' 

" 


Duke  Gorboduc  dividing  his  land  to  his  two  sons,  which  , 

he  before  held  in  monarchy,  and  upon  the  dissension  of       '      . 
the  brethren   to  whom  it  was  divided. 

ACT  I.     SCENE  I. 
VIDENA.     FERREX. 

Vid.     The  silent  night  that  brings  the  quiet 

pause, 

From  painful  travels  of  the  weary  day, 
Prolongs  my  careful  thoughts,  and  makes  me 

blame 

The  slow  Aurore,  that  so  for  love  or  shame 
Doth  long  delay  to  show  her  blushing  face  ; 


90  Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  I.,  Sc.  i 

And  now  the  day  renews  my  griefful  plaint. 

Ferr.     My  gracious  lady  and  my  mother  dear, 
Pardon  my  grief  for  your  so  grieved  mind, 
To  ask  what  cause  tormenteth  so  your  heart. 

Vid.     So   great    a    wrong,    and    so    unjust 

despite, 
&*     Without  all  cause,  against  all  course  of  kind  ! 

Ferr.     Such  causeless  wrong  and  so  unjust 

despite, 
May  have  redress,  or  at  the  least,  revenge. 

Vid.     Neither,  my  son;  such  is  the  froward 

will, 
The  person  such,  such  my  mishap  and  thine. 

Ferr.     Mine  know  I  none,  but  grief  for  your 
distress.  [no : 

Vid.     Yes ;  mine  for  thine,  my  son  :  a  father  ? 
In  kind  a  father,  not  in  kindliness.  [all, 

Ferr.     My  father?  why?  I  know  nothing  at 
Wherein  I  have  misdone  unto  his  grace.      [me  : 

Vid.     Therefore,  the  more  unkind  to  thee  and 
For,  knowing  well,  my  son,  the  tender  love 
That  I  have  ever  borne  and  bear  to  thee, 
He,  griev'd  thereat,  is  not  content  alone 
To  spoil  thee  of  my  sight,  my  chiefest  joy, 
But  thee,  of  thy  birthright,  and  heritage, 
Causeless,  unkindly,  and  in  wrongful  wise, 
Against  all  law  and  right  he  will  bereave  : 
*f  Half  of  his  kingdom  he  will  give  away, 
x,     Ferr.     To  whom? 

Vid.     Ev'n  to  Porrex  his  younger  son ; 
Whose  growing  pride  I  do  so  sore  suspect, 
That  being  rais'd  to  equal  rule  with  thee, 
Methinks  I  see  his  envious  heart  to  swell, 
Fill'd  with  disdain  and  with  ambitious  hope.. 
The  end  the  gods  do  know,  whose  altars  I 
Full  oft  have  made  in  vain,  of  cattle  slain 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  I.,  Sc.  i  91 

To  send  the  sacred  smoke  to  heaven's  throne, 
For  thee  my  son ;  if  things  do  so  succeed, 
As  now  my  jealous  mind  misdeemeth  sore. 

Ferr.     Madam,  leave  care  and  careful  plaint 

for  me ! 

Just  hath  my  father  been  to  every  wight : 
His  first  injustice  he  will  not  extend 
To  me,  I  trust,  that  give  no  cause  thereof ; 
My  brother's  pride  shall  hurt  himself,  not  me. 

Vid.     So  grant  the  gods  !     But  yet  thy  father 
Hath  firmly  fixed  his  unmoved  mind,  [so 

That  plaints  and  prayers  can  no  whit  avail ; 
For  those  have  I  assay 'd,  but  even  this  day, 
He  will  endeavour  to  procure  assent 
Of  all  his  council  to  his  fond  device.  [born 

Ferr.     Their  ancestors  from  race  to  race  have 
True  faith  to  my  forefathers  and  their  seed  : 
I  trust  they  eke  will  bear  the  like  to  me.       [of, 

Vid.     There  resteth  all ;  but  if  they  fail  there- 
And  if  the  end  bring  forth  an  ill  success, 
On  them  and  theirs  the  mischief  shall  befall, 
And  so  I  pray  the  gods  requite  it  them  ! 
And  so  they  will,  for  so  is  wont  to  be 
When  lords  and  trusted  rulers  under  kings, 
To  please  the  present  fancy  of  the  prince,    [ance. 
With  wrong  transpose  the  course  of  govern- 
Murders,  mischief,  or  civil  sword  at  length, 
Or  mutual  treason,  or  a  just  revenge, 
When  right-succeeding  line  returns  again 
By  Jove's  just  judgment  and  deserved  wrath, 
Brings  them  to  cruel  and  reproachful  death, 
And  roots  their  names  and  kindreds  from  the 
earth. 

Ferr.     Mother,  content  you,  you  shall  see  the 
end.  [first ! 

Vid.     The  end  ?  thy  end  I  fean    Jove  end  me 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  I.,  Sc.  2 


ACT  I.     SCENE  II. 

GORBODUC.     AROSTUS.     PHILANDER. 
EUBULUS.  £  • 

Gorb.     My  lords,   whose  grave  advice  and 

faithful  aid 

Have  long  upheld  my  honour  and  my  realm, 
And  brought  me  to  this  age  from  tender  years, 
Guiding  so  great  estate  with  great  renown, 
Now  more  importeth  me,  than  erst,  to  use 
Your  faith  and  wisdom,  whereby  yet  I  reign ; 
That  when  by  death  my  life  and  rule  shall  cease, 
The  kingdom  yet  may  with  unbroken  course 
Have  certain  prince,  by  whose  undoubted  right, 
Your  wealth  and  peace  may  stand  in  quiet  stay  : 
:  And  eke  that  they,  whom  nature  hath  prepar'd 
In  time  to  take  my  place  in  princely  seat, 
While  in  their  father's  time  their  pliant  youth 
Yields  to  the  frame  of  skilful  governance, 
May  so  be  taught  and  train 'd  in  noble  arts, 
As  what  their  fathers  which  have  reign 'd  before 
Have  with  great  fame  derived  down  to  them, 
With  honour  they  may  leave  unto  their  seed  ; 
And  not  be  thought  for  their  unworthy  life, 
And  for  their  lawless  swerving  out  of  kind, 
Worthy  to  lose  what  law  and  kind  them  gave  : 
But  that  they  may  preserve  the  common  peace, 
The  cause  that  first  began  and  still  maintains 
The  lineal  course  of  kings'  inheritance. 
For  me,  for  mine,  for  you,  and  for  the  state, 
Whereof  both  I  and  you  have  charge  and  care, 
Thus  do  I  mean  to  use  your  wonted  faith 
^To  me  and  mine,  and  to  your  native  land. 
My  lords,  be  plain,  without  all  wry  respect, 
Or  poisonous  craft  to  speak  in  pleasing  wise, 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  I.,  Sc.  2  93 

Lest  as  the  blame  of  ill  succeeding  things 
Shall  light  on  you,  so  light  the  harms  also. 

Aros.     Your  good  acceptance  so,  most  noble 
Of  such  our  faithfulness,  as  heretofore       [king, 
We  have  employ 'd  in  duties  to  your  grace, 
And  to  this  realm  whose  worthy  head  you  are, 
Well  proves  that  neither  you  mistrust  at  all, 
Nor  we  shall  need  in  boasting  wise  to  show 
Our  truth  to  you,  nor  yet  our  wakeful  care 
For  you,  for  yours,  and  for  our  native  land. 
Wherefore,  O  king,  I  speak  as  one  for  all, 
Sith  all  as  one  do  bear  you  egal  faith  : 
Doubt  not  to  use  our  counsels  and  our  aids 
Whose  honours,  goods,   and  lives,  are  whole 

avow'd 

To  serve,  to  aid,  and  to  defend  your  grace. 
Gorb.     My  lords,  I  thank  you  all.     This  is 
the  case  :  [care 

Ye  know  the  gods,   who  have  the  sovereign 
For   kings,    for   kingdoms,   and   for  common 
weals, 

Gave  me  two  sons  in  my  more  lusty  age, 
Who  now  in  my  decaying  years  are  grown 
Well  towards  riper  state  of  mind  and  strength, 
To  take  in  hand  some  greater  princely  charge. 
As  yet  they  live  and  spend  [their]  hopeful  days 
With  me  and  with  their  mother  here  in  court : 
Their  age  now  asketh  other  place  and  trade, 
And  mine  also  doth  ask  another  change ; 
Theirs  to  more  travail,  mine  to  greater  ease. 
When  fatal  death  shall  end  my  mortal  life, 
{'My  purpose  is  to  leave  unto  them  twain 
The  realm  divided  in  two  sundry  parts  :  -  " 
The  one,  Ferrex  mine  elder  son  shall  have, 
The  other,  shall  the  younger  Porrex  rule. 
That  both  my  purpose  may  more  firmly  stand, 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  I.,  Sc.  2 

And  eke  that  they  may  better  rule  their  charge, 

I  mean  forthwith  to  place  them  in  the  same  : 

That  in  my  life  they  may  both  learn  to  rule, 

And  I  may  joy  to  see  their  ruling  well. 

This  is  in  sum  what  I  would  have  ye  weigh  : 

First,  whether  ye  allow  my  whole  device, 

And  think  it  good  for  me,  for  them,  for  you, 

And  for  our  country,  mother  of  us  all : 

And  if  ye  like  it,  and  allow  it  well, 

Then  for  their  guiding  and  their  governance, 

Show  forth  such  means  of  circumstance, 

As  ye  think  meet  to  be  both  known  and  kept. 

Lo,  this  is  all ;  now  tell  me  your  advice. 

Aros.     And  this  is  much,  and  asketh  great 

advice ; 

But  for  my  part,  my  sovereign  lord  and  king, 
This  do  I  think  :  Your  majesty  doth  know, 
How  under  you  in  justice  and  in  peace, 
;  Great  wealth  and  honour  long  we  have  en  joy 'd  ; 
So  as  we  can  not  seem  with  greedy  minds 
To  wish  for  change  of  prince  or  governance  : 
But  if  we  like  your  purpose  and  device, 
Our  liking  must  be  deemed  to  proceed 
Of  rightful  reason,  and  of  heedful  care, 
Not  for  ourselves,  but  for  the  common  state, 
Sith  our  own  state  doth  need  no  better  change  : 
I  think  in  all  as  erst  your  grace  hath  said. 
First,  when  you  shall  unload  your  aged  mind 
Of  heavy  care  and  troubles  manifold, 
And  lay  the  same  upon  my  lords  your  sons, 
Whose   growing   years   may  bear  the   burden 
(And  long  I  pray  the  gods  to  grant  it  so)     [long, 
And  in  your  life  while  you  shall  so  behold 
Their  rule,  their  virtues,  and  their  noble  deeds, 
Such  as  their  kind  behighteth  to  us  all ; 
Great  be  the  profits  that  shall  grow  thereof, 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  I.,  Sc.  2  95 

Your  age  in  quiet  shall  the  longer  last, 
Your  lasting  age  shall  be  their  longer  stay  : 
For  cares  of  kings,  that  rule  as  you  have  rul'd 
For  public  wealth  and  not  for  private  joy, 
Do  waste  man's  life,  and  hasten  crooked  age 
With  furrow 'd  face  and  with  enfeebled  limbs, 
To  draw  on  creeping  death  a  swifter  pace.  ~ 
They  two,  yet  young,  shall  bear  the  parted  reign 
With  greater  ease,  than  one,  now  old,*'alone 
Can  wield  the  whole,  for  whom  much  harder  is 
With  lessen 'd  strength  the  double  weight  to 

bear. 

Your  eye,  your  counsel,  and  the  grave  regard 
Of  father,  yea,  of  such  a  father's  name, 
Now  at  beginning  of  their  sunder'd  reign 
When  is  the  hazard  of  their  whole  success, 
Shall  bridle  so  their  force  of  youthful  heats, 
And  so  restrain  the  rage  of  insolence 
Which  most  assails  the  young  and  noble  minds, 
And  so  shall  guide  and  train  in  temper'd  stay 
Their  yet  green  bending  wits  with  reverent  awe, 
As  now  inur'd  with  virtues  at  the  first, 
Custom,  O  king,  shall  bring  delightfulness. 
By  use  of  virtue,  vice  shall  grow  in  hate ; 
But  if  you  so  dispose  it,  that  the  day        [reign, 
Which  ends  your  life,   shall   first  begin  their 
Great  is  the  peril,  what  will  be  the  end, 
When  such  beginning  of  such  liberties 
Void  of  such  stays  as  in  your  life  do  lie, 
Shall  leave  them  free  to  random  of  their  will, 
An  open  prey  to  traitorous  flattery, 
The  greatest  pestilence  of  noble  youth  : 
Which  peril  shall  be  past,  if  in  your  life, 
Their  temper'd  youth  with  aged  father's  awe 
Be  brought  in  ure  of  skilful  stayedness ; 
And  in  your  life,  their  lives  disposed  so, 


96  Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  I.,  Sc.  2 

Shall  length  your  noble  life  in  joyfulness. 
Thus    think    I    that    your    grace    hath   wisely 

thought, 

And  that  your  tender  care  of  common  weal 
Hath  bred  this  thought,  so  to  divide  your  land, 
And  plant  your  sons  to  bear  the  present  rule 
While  you  yet  live  to  see  their  ruling  well, 
That  you  may  longer  live  by  joy  therein. 
What  further  means  behooveful  are  and  meet, 
At  greater  leisure  may  your  grace  devise, 
When  all  have  said ;  and  when  we  be  agreed 
If  this  be  best  to  part  the  realm  in  twain, 
And  place  your  sons  in  present  government : 
Whereof  as  I  have  plainly  said  my  mind, 
So  would  I  hear  the  rest  of  all  my  lords. 

Phil.     In    part    I   think   as    hath    been   said 
In  part  again  my  mind  is  otherwise.       [before, 
As  for  dividing  of  this  realm  in  twain, 
And  lotting  out  the  fame  in  egal  parts, 
To  either  of  my  lords  your  grace's  sons, 
That  think  I  best  for  this  your  realm's  behoof, 
For  profit  and  advancement  of  your  sons, 
And  for  your  comfort  and  your  honour  eke  : 
But  so  to  place  them  while  your  life  do  last, 
To  yield  to  them  your  royal  governance, 
To  be  above  them  only  in  the  name 
Of  father,  not  in  kingly  state  also, 
I  think  not  good  for  you,  for  them,  nor  us. 
This  kingdom  since  the  bloody  civil  field, 
Where  Morgan  slain    did  yield  his  conquer 'd 
Unto  his  cousin's  sword  in  Camberland,      [part 
Containeth  all  that  whilom  did  suffice 
Three  noble  sons  of  your  forefather  Brute  : 
So  your  two  sons,  it  may  suffice  also  ; 
The  mo  the  stronger,  if  they  gree  in  one  : 
The  smaller  compass  that  the  realm  doth  hold 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  I.,  Sc.  2  97 

The  easier  is  the  sway  thereof  to  wield ; 
The  nearer  justice  to  the  wronged  poor 
The  smaller  charge,  and  yet  enough  for  one. 
And  when  the  region  is  divided  so 
.   That  brethren  be  the  lords  of  either  part,   [both, 
Such  strength  doth  nature  knit  between  them 
In  sundry  bodies  by  conjoined  love, 
That  not  as  two,  but  one  of  doubled  force, 
Each  is  to  other  as  a  sure  defence ; 
The  nobleness  and  glory  of  the  one, 
Doth  sharp  the  courage  of  the  other's  mind 
With  virtuous  envy  to  contend  for  praise  : 
And  such  an  egalness  hath  nature  made, 
Between  the  brethren  of  one  father's  seed, 
As  an  unkindly  wrong  it  seems  to  be, 
To  throw  the  brother  subject  under  feet 
Of  him,  whose  peer  he  is  by  course  of  kind  : 
And  nature  that  did  make  this  egalness, 
Oft  so  repineth  at  so  great  a  wrong, 
That  oft  she  raiseth  up  a  grudging  grief 
In  younger  brethren  at  the  elder's  state  : 
Whereby  both  towns  and  kingdoms  have  been 

rased, 

And  famous  stocks  of  royal  blood  destroyed  : 
The  brother,  that  should  be  the  brother's  aid, 
And  have  a  wakeful  care  for  his  defence, 
Gapes  for  his  death,  and  blames  the  lingering 

years 

That  draw  not  forth  his  end  with  faster  course ; 
And  oft  impatient  of  so  long  delays, 
With  hateful  slaughter  he  prevents  the  fates, 
And  heaps  a  just  reward  for  brother's  blood, 
With  endless  vengeance  on  his  stock  for  aye. 
Such  mischiefs  here  are  wisely  met  withal ; 
If  egal  state  may  nourish  egal  love,          [good. 
Where  none  hath  cause  to  grudge  at  other's 
ED.  H 


98 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  I.,  Sc.  2 


But  now  the  head  to  stoop  beneath  them  both, 
Ne  kind,  ne  reason,  ne  good  order  bears. 
And  oft  it  hath  been  seen,  where  nature's  course 
Hath  been  perverted  in  disordered  wise,      [rule, 
When  fathers  cease  to  know  that  they  should 
The  children  cease  to  know  they  should  obey  : 
And  often  over-kindly  tenderness 
Is  mother  of  unkindly  stubbornness. 
I  speak  not  this  in  envy  or  reproach, 
As  if  I  grudg'd  the  glory  of  your  sons, 
Whose  honour  I  beseech  the  gods  increase  : 
Nor  yet  as  if  I  thought  there  did  remain 
So  filthy  cankers  in  their  noble  breasts, 
Whom  I  esteem  (which  is  their  greatest  praise) 
Undoubted  children  of  so  good  a  king ;  • 
Only  I  mean  to  show  by  certain  rules, 
Which  kind  hath  graft  within  the  mind  of  man, 
That  nature  hath  her  order  and  her  course, 
Which,  being  broken,  doth  corrupt  the  state 
Of  minds  and  things  e'en  in  the  best  of  all. 
My  lord,  your  sons  may  learn  to  rule  of  you; 
Your  own  example  in  your  noble  court 
Is  fittest  guider  of  their  youthful  years. 
If  you  desire  to  see  some  present  joy 
By  sight  of  their  well  ruling  in  your  life, 
See  them  obey,  so  shall  you  see  them  rule  : 
Whoso  obeyeth  not  with  humbleness, 
Will  rule  with  outrage  and  with  insolence. 
Long  may  they  rule,  I  do  beseech  the  gods ; 
But  long  may  they  learn,  ere  they  begin  to  rule. 
If  kind  and  fates  would  suffer,  I  would  wish 
Them  aged  princes  and  immortal  kings. 
Wherefore,  most  noble  king,\  I  well  assent 
Between  your  sons  that  you  divide  your  realm, 
And  as  in  kind,  so  match  them  in  degree  : 
But  while  the  gods  prolong  your  royal  life, 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  I.,  Sc.  2  99 

Prolong  your  reign ;  for  thereto  live  you  here, 
And  therefore  have  the  gods  so  long  forborn 
To  join  you  to  themselves,  that  still  you  might 
Be  prince  and  father  of  our  common  weal : 
They,  when  they  see  your  children  ripe  to  rule, 
Will  make  them  room,  and  will  remove  you 
That  yours  in  right  ensuing  of  your  life    [hence, 
May  rightly  honour  your  immortal  name. 
Eub.     Your  wonted  true  regard  of  faithful 

hearts 

Makes  me,  O  King,  the  bolder  to  presume 
To  speak  what  I  conceive  within  my  breast; 
Although  the  same  do  not  agree  at  all 
With  that  which  other  here  my  lords  have  said, 
Nor  which  yourself  have  seemed  best  to  like. 
Pardon  I  crave,  and  that  my  words  be  deem'd 
To  flow  from  hearty  zeal  unto  your  grace, 
And  to  the  safety  of  your  common  weal. 
To  part  your  realm  unto  my  lords  your  sons, 

r  I  think  not  good  for  you,  ne  yet  for  them, 
But  worst  of  all,  for  this  our  native  land  : 
Within  one  land,  one  single  rule  is  best  i 
Divided  reigns  do  make  divided  hearts ; 
But  peace  preserves  the  country  and  the  prince. 

,    Such  is  in  man  the  greedy  mind  to  reign,  _ 

So  great  is  his  desire  to  climb  aloft, 
In  worldly  stage  the  stateliest  parts  to  bear, 
That  faith  and  justice  and  all  kindly  love 
Do  yield  unto  desire  of  sovereignty, 
Where  egal  state  doth  raise  an  egal  hope 
To  win  the  thing  that  either  would  attain. 
Your  grace  remembereth  how  in  passed  years, 
The  mighty  Brute,  first  prince  of  all  this  land, 
Possess 'd  the  fame  and  rul'd  it  well  in  one  : 
He,  thinking  that  the  compass  did  suffice, 
For  his  three  sons  three  kingdoms  eke  to  make, 

H    2 


100 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  I.,  Sc.  2 


Cut  it  in  three,  as  you  would  now  in  twain  : 
But  how  much  British  blood  hath  since  been 
To  join  again  the  sunder'd  unity?  [spilt 

What  princes  slain  before  their  timely  hour? 
What  waste  of  towns  and  people  in  the  land  ? 
\Vhat  treasons  heap'd  on  murders  and  on 

spoils  ? 

Whose  just  revenge  e'en  yet  is  scarcely  ceased, 
Ruthful  remembrance  is  yet  raw  in  mind. 
The  gods  forbid  the  like  to  chance  again  : 
And  you,  O  King,  give  not  the  cause  thereof. 

lord  Ferrex  your  elder  son,  perhaps 
hom  kind  and  custom  gives  a  rightful  hope 
To  be  your  heir  and  to  succeed  your  reign, 
Shall  think  that  he  doth  suffer  greater  wrong 
Than  he  perchance  will  bear,  if  power  serve. 
;  Porrex  the  younger,  so  uprais'd  in  state, 
Perhaps  in  courage  will  be  rais'd  alsdJ 
If  flattery  then,  which  fails  not  to  assail 
The  tender  minds  of  yet  unskilful  youth, 
In  one  shall  kindle  and  increase  disdain, 
And  envy  in  the  other's  heart  inflame  :     [land, 
This  fire  shall  waste  their  love,  their  lives,  their 
And  ruthful  ruin  shall  destroy  them  both. 
I  wish  not  this,  O  King,  so  to  befall, 
But  fear  the  thing  that  I  do  most  abhor. 
Give  no  beginning  to  so  dreadful  end ; 
Keep  them  in  order  and  obedience ; 
And  let  them  both  by  now  obeying  you, 
Learn  such  behaviour  as  beseems  their  state; 
The  elder,  mildness  in  his  governance, 
The  younger,  a  yielding  contentedness ; 
And  keep  them  near  unto  your  presence  still, 
That  they,  restrained  by  the  awe  of  you, 
May  live  in  compass  of  well  temper 'd  stay, 
And  pass  the  perils  of  their  youthful  years. 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  I.,  Sc.  2  101 

Your  aged  life  draws  on  to  feebler  time, 
Wherein  you  shall  less  able  be  to  bear 
The  travails  that  in  youth  you  have  sustain 'd, 
Both  in  your  person's  and  your  realm's  defence. 
If  planting  now  your  sons  in  further  parts, 
You    send    them    further    from    your    present 

reach,  [demean : 

Less    shall    you    know    how    they    themselves 
Traitorous  corrupters  of  their  pliant  youth 
Shall  have  unspied  a  much  more  free  access ; 
And  if  ambition  and  inflam'd  disdain 
Shall  arm  the  one,  the  other,  or  them  both, 
To  civil  war,  or  to  usurping  pride, 
Late  shall  you  rue  that  you  ne  reck'd  before. 
Good  is,  I  grant,  of  all  to  hope  the  best, 
But  not  to  live  still  dreadless  of  the  worst. 
So  trust  the  one,  that  th'  other  be  foreseen. 
Arm  not  unskilfulness  with  princely  power ; 
But  you  that  long  have  wisely  rul'd  the  reins 
Of  royalty  within  your  noble  realm, 
So  hold  them,  while  the  gods  for  our  avails 
Shall  stretch  the  thread  of  your  prolonged  days. 
Too  soon  he  clamb  into  the  flaming  car, 
Whose  want  of  skill  did  set  the  earth  on  fire. 
Time  and  example  of  your  noble  grace 
"~~Shall  teach  your  sons  both  to  obey  and  rule; 
When  time  hath  taught  them,  time  shall  make 

them  place, 

The  place  that  now  is  full :  and  so  I  pray 
Long  it  remain,  to  comfort  of  us  all.         [part : 
Gorb.     I  take  your  faithful  hearts  in  thankful 
But  sith  I  see  no  cause  to  draw  my  mind, 
To  fear  the  nature  of  my  loving  sons, 
Or  to  misdeem  that  envy  or  disdain         [love; 
Can  there  work  hate,   where  nature  planteth 
In  one  self  purpose  do  I  still  abide  : 


102  Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  I.,  Sc.  2 

:    /•"'" 

My  love  extendeth  egally  to  both, 

My  land  sufficeth  for  them  both  also. 

Humber  shall  part  the  marches  of  their  realms  : 

The  southern  part  the  elder  shall  possess, 

The  northern  shall  Porrex  the  younger  rule. 

In  quiet  I  will  pass  mine  aged  days, 

Free  from  the  travail  and  the  painful  cares 

That  hasten  age  upon  the  worthiest  kings. 

But  lest  the  fraud,  that  ye  do  seem  to  fear 

Of    flattering    tongues,    corrupt    their    tender 

youth, 

And  writhe  them  to  the  ways  of  youthful  lust, 
To  climbing  pride,  or  to  revenging  hate ; 
Or  to  neglecting  of  their  careful  charge, 
Lewdly  to  live  in  wanton  recklessness; 
Or  to  oppressing  of  the  rightful  cause ; 
Or  not  to  wreak  the  wrongs  done  to  the  poor, 
,To  tread  down  truth,  or  favour  false  deceit ; 
/I  mean  to  join  to  either  of  my  sons 
Some  one  of  those  whose  long  approved  faith 
And  wisdom  tried  may  well  assure  my  heart : 
That  mining  fraud  shall  find  no  way  to  creep 
Into  their  fenced  ears  with  grave  advice. j 
This  is  the  end ;  and  so  I  pray  you  all 
To  bear  my  sons  the  love  and  loyalty 
That  I  have  found  within  your  faithful  breasts. 
Aros.     You,   nor  your  sons,   our  sovereign 

lord,  shall  want 
Our  faith  and  service  while  our  lives  do  last. 


CHORUS. 

When  settled  stay  doth  hold  the  royal  throne 
In  stedfast  place  by  known  and  doubtless  right, 
And  chiefly  when  descent  on  one  alone 
Makes  single  and  imparted  reign  to  light ; 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  I.,  Sc.  2  103 

Each  change  of  course  unjoints  the  whole  estate, 

And  yields  it  thrall  to  ruin  by  debate. 

f  The  strength  that  knit  by  fast  accord  in  one,  -, 

Against  all  foreign  power  of  mighty  foes, 

Could  of  itself  defend  itself  alone, 

Disjoined  once,  the  former  force  doth  lose.  ) 

The  sticks,    that  sunder 'd   brake   so    soon   in 

twain, 
In  faggot  bound  attempted  were  in  vain. 

Oft  tender  mind  that  leads  the  partial  eye 
Of  erring  parents  in  their  children's  love, 
Destroys  the  wrongly  loved  child  thereby  : 
This  doth  the  proud  son  of  Apollo  prove, 
Who,  rashly  set  in  chariot  of  his  fire, 
Inflam'd  the  parched  earth  with  heaven's  fire. 

And  this  great  king,  that  doth  divide  his  land, 
And  change  the  course  of  his  descending  crown, 
And  yields  the  reign  into  his  children's  hand ; 
From  blissful  state  of  joy  and  great  renown, 
/"A  mirror  shall  become  to  princes  all,         \ 
v  To  learn  to  shun  the  cause  of  such  a  fall.    ' 


THE    ORDER    AND     SIGNIFICATION     OF    THE 
DUMB  SHOW  BEFORE  THE  SECOND  ACT 

FIRST  the  music  of  cornets  began  to  play,  during 
which  came  in  upon  the  stage  a  king  accompanied  with 
a  number  of  his  nobility  and  gentlemen.  And  after  he 
had  placed  himself  in  a  chair  of  estate  prepared  for 
him,  there  came  and  kneeled  before  him  a  grave  and 
aged  gentleman  and  offered  up  a  cup  unto  him  of  win£ 
in  a  glass,  which  the  king  refused.  After  him  comes 
a  brave  and  lusty  young  gentleman  and  presents  the 
king  with  a  cup  of  gold  filled  with  poison,  which  the', 
king  accepted,  and  drinking  the  same,  immediately  fell 
down  dead  upon  the  stage,  and  so  was  carried  thence 
away  by  his  lords  and  gentlemen,  and  then  the  music 
ceased.  Hereby  was  signified,  that  as  jjlass  by  nature 
holdeth  no  poison,  but  is  clear  and  may  easily  be  seen 
through,  ne  boweth  by  any  art :  so  a  faithful  coun 
sellor  holdeth  no  treason,  but  is  plain  and  open,  ne 
yieldeth  to  any  indiscreet  affection,  but  giveth  whole 
some  counsel,  which  the  ill-advised  prince  refuseth. 
The  delightful  gold  filled  with  poison  betokeneth  flat 
tery,  which  under  fair  seeming  of  pleasant  words  bear- 
eth  deadly  poison,  which  destroyeth  the  prince  that  re- 
ceiveth  it.  As  befel  in  the  two  brethren  Ferrex  and 
Porrex,  who,  refusing  the  wholesome  advice  of  grave 
counsellors,  credited  these  young  parasites,  and  brought 
to  themselves  death  and  destruction  thereby. 


ACT  II.     SCENE  I.  , 


FERREX.     HERMON.     DORDAN.  ^cV^v 

Ferr.     I  marvel  much  what  reason  led  the 
My  father,  thus  without  all  my  desert,       [king 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  II.,  Sc.  i 

To  reave  me  half  the  kingdom,  which  by  course 
Of  law  and  nature  should  remain  to  me. 

Ifer.     If    you    with    stubborn    and    untamed 
Had  stood  against  him  in  rebelling-  wise ;  [pride 
Or  if  with  grudging  mind  you  had  envied 
So  slow  a  sliding  of  his  aged  years; 
Or  sought  before  your  time  to  haste  the  course 
Of  fatal  death  upon  his  royal  head ; 
Or  stain 'd  your  stock  with  murder  of  your  kin  ; 
Some  face  of  reason  might  perhaps  have  seem'd 
To  yield  some  likely  cause  to  spoil  ye  thus. 

Ferr.  /The  wreakful  gods  pour  on  my  cursed 
Eternal  plagues  and  never  dying  woes ;     [head 
The  hellish  prince  adjudge  my  damned  ghost 
To  Tantal's  thirst,  or  proud  Ixion's  wheel, 
Or  cruel  gripe  to  gnaw  my  growing  heart, 
To  during  torments  and  unquenched  flames ; 
If  ever  I  conceiv'd  so  foul  a  thought, 
To  wish  his  end  of  life,  or  yet  of  reign.    ) 

Dor.     Ne  yet   your    father,    O   most    noble 
Did  ever  think  so  foul  a  thing  of  you  :     [prince, 
For  he,  with  more  than  father's  tender  love, 
While  yet  the  fates  do  lend  him  life  to  rule, 
(Who  long  might  live  to  see  your  ruling  well) 
To  you,  my  lord,  and  to  his  other  son, 
Lo,  he  resigns  his  realm  and  royalty ; 
Which  never  would  so  wise  a  prince  have  done, 
If  he  had  once  misdeem 'd,  that  in  your  heart 
There  ever  lodged  so  unkind  a  thought. 
But  tender  love,  my  lord,  and  settled  trust 
Of  your  good  nature,  and  your  noble  mind, 
Made  him  to  place  you  thus  in  royal  throne, 
And  now  to  give  you  half  his  realm  to  guide  ^ 
Yea,  and  that  half  which  in  abounding  store 
Of  things  that  serve  to  make  a  wealthy  realm, 
In  stately  cities,  and  in  fruitful  soil, 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  II.,  Sc.  I  107 

In  temperate  breathing-  of  the  milder  heaven, 
In  things  of  needful  use,  which  friendly  sea 
Transports  by  traffick  from  the  foreign  parts, 
(In  flowing  wealth,  in  honour  and  in  force, 
Doth  pass  the  double  value  of  the  part 
That  Porrex  hath  allotted  to  his  reign. 
Such  is  your  case,  such  is  your  father's  love. 

Ferr.     Ah  love,  my  friends  ?  love  wrongs  not 
whom  he  loves.  [y°u 

Dor.     Ne  yet  he  wrongeth  you,  that  giveth 
So  large  a  reign,  ere  that  the  course  of  time 
Bring  you  to  kingdom  by  descended  right, 
Which    time    perhaps    might    end    your    time 
before.  [from  me 

Ferr.  (is  this  no  wrong,  say  you,'  to  reave    ' 
My  native  right  of  half  so  great  a  realm? 
And  thus  to  match  his  younger  son  with  me 
In  egal  pow'r,  and  in  as  great  degree?      [pride 
Yea,   and  what  son?  the  son  whose  swelling 
Would  never  yield  one  point  of  reverence, 
When  I  the  elder  and  apparent  heir 
Stood  in  the  likelihood  to  possess  the  whole; 
Yea,  and  that  son  which  from  his  childish  age 
Envieth  mine  honour,  and  doth  hate  my  life. 
What  will  he  now  do,  when  his  pride,  his  rage, 
The  mindful  malice  of  his  grudging  heart, 
Is  arm'd  with  force,  with  wealth,  and  kingly 
state  ?  [wrong 

Her.     Was  this  not  wrong  ?     Yea  ill-advised 
To  give  so  mad  a  man  so  sharp  a  sword, 
To  so  great  peril  of  so  great  mishap, 
Wide  open  thus  to  set  so  large  a  way.       [this, 

Dor.     Alas,  my  lord,  what  griefful  thing  is 
^That  of  your  brother  you  can  think  so  ill? 
(    I  never  saw  him  utter  likely  sign 
v  Whereby  a  man  might  see  or  once  misdeem 


io8 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  II.,  Sc.  i 


Such  hate  of  you,  ne  such  unyielding  pride  : 
111  is  their  counsel,  shameful  be  their  end, 
That,  raising  such  mistrustful  fear  in  you, 
Sowing  the  seed  of  such  unkindly  hate, 
Travail  by  treason  to  destroy  you  both, 
Wise  is  your  brother  and  of  noble  hope, 
Worthy  to  wield  a  large  and  mighty  realm ; 
So  much  a  stronger  friend  have  you  thereby, 
Whose  strength  is  your  strength,  if  you  gree  in 

one, 

Her.     If  nature  and  the  gods  had  pinched  so 
Their  flowing  bounty,  and  their  noble  gifts 
Of  princely  qualities  from  you,  my  lord, 
And  pour'd  them  all  at  once  in  wasteful  wise 
Upon  your  father's  younger  son  alone; 
Perhaps  there  be,  that  in  your  prejudice  [ness  : 
Would  say  that  birth  should  yield  to  worthi- 
But  sith  in  each  good  gift  and  princely  art 
Ye  are  his  match,  and  in  the  chief  of  all — 
In  mildness  and  in  sober  governance — 
Ye  far  surmount ;  and  sith  there  is  in  you 
Sufficing  skill  and  hopeful  towardness    [praise, 
To  wield  the  whole,   and  match  your  elder's 
V  I  see  no  cause  why  ye  should  lose  the  half, 
"Ne  would  I  wish  you  yield  to  such  a  loss  : 
Lest  your  mild  sufferance  of  so  great  a  wrong 
Be  deemed  cowardishe  and  simple  dread, 
Which  shall  give  courage  to  the  fiery  head 
Of  your  young  brother  to  invade  the  whole. 
While  yet  therefore  sticks  in  the  people's  mind 
The  loathed  wrong  of  your  disheritance  ; 
And  ere  your  brother  have  by  settled  power, 
By  guileful  cloak  of  an  alluring  show, 
Got  him  some  force  and  favour  in  the  realm ; 
And  while  the  noble  queen  your  mother  lives, 
To  work  and  practice  all  for  your  avail ; 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  II.,  Sc.  i  109 

Attempt  redress  by  arms,  and  wreak  yourself 
Upon  his  life  that  gaineth  by  your  loss, 
Who  now  to  shame  of  you,  and  grief  of  us, 
In  your  own  kingdom  triumphs  over  you  : 
Show  now  your  courage  meet  for  kingly  state, 
That  they  which  have  avow'd  to  spend  their 

goods,  [cause, 

Their  lands,  their  lives,  and  honours  in  your 
May  be  the  bolder  to  maintain  your  part 
When  they  do  see  that  coward  fear  in  you 
Shall  not  betray  ne  fail  their  faithful  hearts. 
If  once  the  death  of  Porrex  end  the  strife, 
And  pay  the  price  of  his  usurped  reign, 
Your  mother  shall  persuade  the  angry  king, 
The  lords  your  friends  eke  shall  appease  his 

rage; 

For  they  be  wise,  and  well  they  can  foresee 
That  ere  long  time  your  aged  father's  death 
Will  bring  a  time  when  you  shall  well  requite 
Their  friendly  favour,  or  their  hateful  spite, 
Yea,  or  their  slackness  to  avaunce  your  cause. 
"  Wise  men  do  not  so  hang  on  passing  state 
"  Of  present  princes,  chiefly  in  their  age, 
"  But  they  will  further  cast  their  reaching  eye, 
"  To  view  and  weigh  the  times  and  reigns  to 
S      come. ' ' 

;  Ne  is  it  likely,  though  the  king  be  wroth, 
vThat  he  yet  will,  or  that  the  realm  w^ill  bear 
Extreme  revenge  upon  his  only  son  \s 
Or  if  he  would,  what  one  is  he  that  dare 
Be  minister  to  such  an  enterprise? 
And  here  you  be  now  placed  in  your  own, 
Amid    your    friends,    your    vassals    and    your 

strength  : 

We  shall  defend  and  keep  your  person  safe 
Till  either  counsel  turn  his  tender  mind, 


no 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  II..  Sc.  I 


Or  age,  or  sorrow  end  his  weary  days. 
But  if  the  fear  of  gods,  and  secret  grudge 
Of  nature's  law,  repining  at  the  fact, 
Withhold  your  courage  from  so  great  attempt, 
JKnow  ye,  that  lust  of  kingdoms  hath  no  law, 
The  gods  "do"  bear  and  well  allow  in  kings  A 
The  things  [that]  they  abhor  in  rascal  routs. 
'  When  kings  on  slender  quarrels  run  to  wars, 
'  And  then  in  cruel  and  unkindly  wise 
'  Command  thefts,  rapes,  murders  of  innocents, 
1  The  spoil  of  towns,  ruins  of  mighty  realms ; 
Think   you  such   princes   do   suppose   them 
selves 

"  Subject  to  laws  of  kind,  and  fear  of  gods?  " 
Murders,  and  violent  thefts  in  private  men 
Are  heinous  crimes  and  full  of  foul  reproach  : 
Yet  none  offence,  but  deck'd  with  glorious  name 
Of  noble  conquests  in  the  hands  of  kings. 
But  if  you  like  not  yet  so  hot  device, 
Ne  list  to  take  such  vantage  of  the  time, 
But,  though  with  peril  of  your  own  estate, 
You  will  not  be  the  first  that  shall  invade ; 
/  Assemble  yet  your  force  for  your  defence, 
(  And  for  your  safety  stand  upon  your  guard. 

Dor(.     O  heaven  !  was  there  ever  heard  or 
So  wicked  counsel  to  a  noble  prince?)     [known 
Let  me,  my  lord,  disclose  unto  your  grace 
This  heinous  tale,  what  mischief  it  contains ; 
Your  father's  death,  your  brother's,  and  your 
Your  present  murder,  and  eternal  shame,   [own, 
Hear  me,  O  king,  and  suffer  not  to  sink 
So  high  »a  treason  in  your  princely  breast. 

Ferr.  \^The  mighty  gods  forbid,  that  ever  I    v 
Should  once  conceive  such  mischief  in  my  heart.  / 
Although  my  brother  hath  bereft  my  realm, 
And  bear  perhaps  to  me  an  hateful  mind, 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  II.,  Sc.  i  in 

Shall  I  revenge  it  with  his  death  therefore? 
Or  shall  I  so  destroy  my  father's  life 
That  gave  me  life?  the  gods  forbid,  I  say; 
Cease  you  to  speak  so  any  more  to  me. 
Ne  you,  my  friend,  with  answer  once  repeat 
So  foul  a  tale  :  in  silence  let  it  die. 
What  lord  or  subject  shall  have  hope  at  all 
That  under  me  they  safely  shall  enjoy 
Their  goods,  their  honours,  lands,  and  liberties, 
With  whom  neither  one  only  brother  dear, 
Ne  father  dearer,  could  enjoy  their  lives  ? 
But  sith  I  fear  my  younger  brother's  rage, 
And  sith  perhaps  some  other  man  may  give 
Some  like  advice,  to  move  his  grudging  head 
At  mine  estate,  which  counsel  may  perchance 
Take  greater  force  with  him,  than  this  with  me ; 

(1  will  in  secret  so  prepare  myself, 
As,  if  his  malice  or  his  lust  to  reign 
Break  forth  in  arms  or  sudden  violence, 
I  may  withstand  his  rage,  and  keep  mine  own. 
Dor.     I  fear  the  fatal  time  now  draweth  on 
When  civil  hate  shall  end  the  noble  line 
Of  famous  Brute,  and  of  his  royal  seed  : 
Great  Jove,  defend  the  mischiefs  now  at  hand  ! 
O  that  the  secretary's  wise  advice  [king 

Had  erst  been   heard,   when  he  besought  the 
Not  to  divide  his  land,  nor  send  his  sons 
To  further  parts  from  presence  of  his  court, 
Ne  yet  to  yield  to  them  his  governance. 
Lo,  such  are  they  now  in  the  royal  throne 
As  was  rash  Phaeton  in  Phoebus'  car; 
Ne  then  the  fiery  steeds  did  draw  the  flame 
With  wilder  randon  through  the  kindled  skies, 
Than  traitorous  counsel  now  will  whirl  about 

^The  youthful  heads  of  these  unskilful  kings. 

(But  I  hereof  their  father  will  inform; 


112 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  II.,  Sc.  2 


The  reverence  of  him  perhaps  shall  stay 

The   growing    mischiefs^  while    they   yet    are 

green  : 

If  this  help  not,  then  woe  unto  themselves, 
The  prince,  the  people,  the  divided  land  I 


> 

f*    ' 


y 


ACT  II.     SCENE  II. 
PORREX.     TYNDAR.     PHILANDER. 

Porr.     And  is  it  thus  ?  and  doth  he  so  prepare 
Against  his  brother  as  his  mortal  foe? 
And  now  while  yet  his  aged  father  lives  ? 
Neither  regards  he  him?  nor  fears  he  me? 
War  would  he  have  ?  and  he  shall  have  it  so. 

Tyn.     I  saw  myself  the  great  prepared  store 
Of  horse,  of  armour,  and  of  weapon  there ; 
Ne  bring  I  to  my  lord  reported  tales 
Without  the  ground  of  seen  and  searched  truth. 
Lo,  secret  quarrels  run  about  his  court 
To  bring  the  name  of  you,  my  lord,  in  hate. 
Each  man  almost  can  now  debate  the  cause 
And  ask  a  reason  of  so  great  a  wrong, 
Why  he  so  noble  and  so  wise  a  prince 
Is,  as  unworthy,  reft  his  heritage? 
And  why  the  king,  misled  by  crafty  means, 
Divided  thus  his  land  from  course  of  right? 
The  wiser  sort  hold  down  their  grieff  ul  heads  ; 
Each  man  withdraws  from  talk  and  company 
Of  those  that  have  been  known  to  favour  you  : 
To  hide  the  mischief  of  their  meaning  there, 
Rumours  are  spread  of  your  preparing  here. 
The  rascal  numbers  of  unskilful  sort, 
Are  fill'd  with  monstrous  tales  of  you  and  yours. 
In  secret  I  was  counsell'd  by  my  friends 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  II.,  Sc.  2  113 

To  haste  me  thence,  and  brought  you,  as  you 

know, 

Letters  from  those  that  both  can  truly  tell, 
And  wovild  not  write  unless  they  knew  it  well. 
Phil,  l  My  lord,  yet  ere  you  move  unkindly 

war, 

Send  to  your  brother  to  demand  the  cause  : 
Perhaps  some  traitorous  tales  have  fill'd  his  ears 
With  false  reports  against  your  noble  grace ; 
Which  once  disclos'd,  shall  end  the  growing 

strife, 

That  else  not  stay'd  with  wise  foresight  in  time, 
Shall   hazard   both   your   kingdoms   and   your 

lives  : 

Send  to  your  father  eke,  he  shall  appease 
Your  kindled  minds,  and  rid  you  of  this  fear. 

Porr.     Rid  me  of  fear  ?  I  fear  him  not  at  all ; 
Ne  will  to  him,  ne  to  my  father  send. 
If  danger  were  for  one  to  tarry  there, 
,Think  ye  it  safety  to  return  again? 
(In  mischiefs,  such  as  Ferrex  now  intends, 
The  wonted  courteous  laws  to  messengers 
Are  not  observ'd,  which  in  just  war  they  use. 
Shall  I  so  hazard  any  one  of  mine? 
Shall  I  betray  my  trusty  friends  to  him 
That  have  disclos'd  his  treason  unto  me? 
.Let  him  entreat  that  fears,  I  fear  him  not : 
x  Or  shall  I  to  the  king  my  father  send  ? 
Yea,  and  send  now  while  such  a  mother  lives 
That  loves  my  brother  and  that  hateth  me? 
Shall  I  give  leisure,  by  my  fond  delays, 
To  Ferrex  to  oppress  me  all  unware? 
/  I  will  not ;  but  I  will  invade  his  realm, 
1  And  seek  the  traitor-prince  within  his  court. 
Mischief  for  mischief  is  a  due  reward. 
His  wretched  head  shall  pay  the  worthy  price 
ED.  i 


ii4  Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  II.,  Sc.  2 

Of  this  his  treason  and  his  hate  to  me. 
Shall  I  abide,  and  treat,  and  send,  and  pray, 
And  hold  my  yielden  throat  to  traitor's  knife, 
While  I  with  valiant  mind  and  conquering  force 
Might  rid  myself  of  foes,  and  win  a  realm? 
Yet  rather,  when  I  have  the  wretch's  head, 
Then  to  the  king  my  father  will  I  send. 
The  bootless  case  may  yet  appease  his  wrath  : 
If  not,  I  will  defend  me  as  I  may. 
Phil.     Lo,  here  the  end  of  these  two  youthful 

kings  ! 

The  father's  death  !  the  ruin  of  their  realms  ! 
"  O  most  unhappy  state  of  counsellors 
"That  light  on  so  unhappy  lords  and  times, 
™  That  neither  can  their  good  advice  be  heard, 
' '  Yet  must  they  bear  the  blames  of  ill  success. ' ' 
But  I  will  to  the  king  their  father  haste, 
Ere  this  mischief  come  to  the  likely  end, 
That  if  the  mindful  wrath  of  wreakful  gods 
Since  mighty  Ilion's  fall,  not  yet  appeased 
With  these  poor  remnants  of  the  Trojan  name, 
Have  not  determin'd  by  unmoved  fate 
Out  of  this  realm  to  raze  the  British  line ; 
By  good  advice,  by  awe  of  father's  name, 
By  force  of  wiser  lords,  this  kindled  hate 
May  yet  be  quench 'd,  ere  it  consume  us  all. 

CHORUS. 

When  youth  not  bridled  with  a  guiding  stay 
Is  left  to  randon  of  their  own  delight,  [sway, 
And  wields  whole  realms,  by  force  of  sovereign 
Great  is  the  danger  of  unmaster'd  might, 
Lest  skilless  rage  throw  down  with  headlong  fall 
Their  lands,  their  states,  their  lives,  themselves 
and  all. 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  II.,  Sc.  2  115 

When  growing  pride  doth  fill  the  swelling 

breast, 

And  greedy  lust  doth  raise  the  climbing  mind, 
O,  hardly  may  the  peril  be  repress  'd ; 
Ne  fear  of  angry  gods,  ne  laws  of  kind, 
Ne  country's  care  can  fired  hearts  restrain, 
When  force  hath  armed  envy  and  disdain. 

When  kings  of  foreset  will  neglect  the  rede 
Of  best  advice,  and  yield  to  pleasing  tales, 
That  do  their  fancy's  noisome  humour  feed, 
Ne  reason,  nor  regard  of  right  avails  : 
Succeeding  heaps  of  plagues  shall  teach  too  late, 
To  learn  the  mischiefs  of  misguided  state. 

Foul  fall  the  traitor  false,  that  undermines 
The  love  of  brethren,  to  destroy  them  both  ! 
(  Woe  to  the  prince  that  pliant  ear  inclines, 
And   yields   his   mind   to   poisonous    tale   that 

floweth 
From  flattering  mouth  !  and  woe  to  wretched 

land 
That  wastes  itself  with  civil  sword  in  hand  ! 

Lo  thus  it  is,  poison  in  gold  to  take, 

And  wholesome  drink  in  homely  cup  forsake. 


THE  ORDER  AND  SIGNIFICATION  OF  THE  DUMB 
SHOW  BEFORE  THE  THIRD  ACT 

FIRST  the  music  of  flutes  began  to  play,  during  which 
came  in  upon  the  stage  a  company  of  mourners  all 
clad  in  black,  betokening  death  and  sorrow  to  ensue 
upon  the  ill-advised  misgovernment  and  dissension  of 
brethren,  as  befel  upon  the  murder  of  Ferrex  by  his 
younger  brother.  After  the  mourners  had  passed  thrice 
about  the  stage,  they  departed,  and  then  the  music 
ceased. 


ACT  III.     SCENE  I. 

GORBODUC.   EUBULUS.   AROSTUS. 

PHILANDER.     NUNTIUS. 

Gorb.     O  cruel  fates,   O  mindful  wrath  of 

gods,  [streams 

Whose    vengeance    neither     Simois'     stained 

Flowing  with  blood  of  Trojan  princes  slain, 

Nor  Phrygian  fields  made  rank  with  corpses 

dead 

Of  Asian  kings  and  lords,  can  yet  appease; 
Ne  slaughter  of  unhappy  Priam's  race, 
Nor  Ilion's  fall  made  level  with  the  soil, 
Can  yet  suffice  :  but  still  continued  rage 
Pursues  our  lines,  and  from  the  farthest  seas 
Doth  chase  the  issues  of  destroyed  Troy. 
"  O>  no  man  happy  till  his  end  be  seen." 
If  any  flowing  wealth  and  seeming  joy 


n8 


rerrex  and  For  rex,  Act  III..  Sc.  I 


In  present  years  might  make  a  happy  wight, 

Happy  was  Hecuba,  the  woefullest  wretch 

That  ever  liv'd  to  make  a  mirror  of; 

And  happy  Priam  with  his  noble  sons ; 

And  happy  I,  till  now  alas,  I  see 

And  feel  my  most  unhappy  wretchedness. 

Behold,  my  lords,  read  ye  this  letter  here ; 

Lo,  it  contains  the  ruin  of  our  realm 

If  timely  speed  provide  not  hasty  help. 

Yet,  O  ye  gods,  if  ever  woeful  king 

Might  move  you  kings  of  kings,  wreak  it  on  me 

And  on  my  sons,  not  on  this  guiltless  realm  : 

Send  down  your  wasting  flames  from  wrathful 

skies, 

To  reave  me  and  my  sons  the  hateful  breath. 
Read,  read,  my  lords ;  this  is  the  matter  why 
I  call'd  ye  now  to  have  your  good  advice. 
The  Letter  from  DORDAN  the  Counsellor  of  the 
Elder  Prince. 

EUBULUS  readeth  the  letter. 
My  sovereign  lord,  what  I  am  loth  to  write 
But  lothest  am  to  see,  that  I  am  forced 
By  letters  now  to  make  you  understand. 
My  lord  Ferrex,  your  eldest  son,  misled 
By  traitorous  fraud  of  young  untemper'd  wits, 
Assembleth  force  against  your  younger  son ; 
Ne  can  my  counsel  yet  withdraw  the  heat 
And  furious  pangs  of  his  inflamed  head. 
Disdain,  saith  he,  of  his  disheritance, 
Arms  him  to  wreak  the  great  pretended  wrong 
With  civil  sword  upon  his  brother's  life. 
If  present  help  do  not  restrain  this  rage,    [you. 
This  flame  will  waste  your  sons,  your  land,  and 
Your    Majesty's    faithful    and    most 
humble  subject, 

DORDAN. 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  III.,  Sc.  I  119 

Aros.     O  king,  appease  your  grief  and  stay 

your  plaint : 

Great  is  the  matter  and  a  woeful  case ; 
But  timely  knowledge  may  bring  timely  help. 
(Send  for  them  both  unto  your  presence  here  : 
The  reverence  of  your  honour,  age,  and  state, 
Your  grave  advice,  the  awe  of  father's  name, 
Shall  quickly  knit  again  this  broken  peace. 
And  if  in  either  of  my  lords  your  sons 
Be  such  untamed  and  unyielding  pride, 
As  will  not  bend  unto  your  noble  hests ; 
If  Ferrex  the  elder  son  can  bear  no  peer, 
Or  Porrex  not  content,  aspires  to  more 
Than  you  him  gave,  above  his  native  right; 
Join  with  the  juster  side,  so.  shall  you  force 
Them  to  agree,  and  hold  the  land  in  stay. 

Eub.     What    meaneth    this?       Lo,    yonder 

comes  in  haste 
Philander  from  my  lord  your  younger  son. 

Gorb.     The  gods  send  joyful  news  * 

Phil     The  mighty  Jove 
Preserve  your  majesty,  O  noble  king. 

Gorb.     Philander,   welcome;   but  how  doth 
my  son? 

Phil.     Your  son,  sir,  lives ;  and  healthy  I  him 

left: 

But  yet,  O  king,  the  want  of  lustful  health 
Could  not  be  half  so  griefful  to  your  grace 
As  these  most  wretched  tidings  that  I  bring. 

Gorb.     O  heavens,  yet  more?  not  end  of  woes 
to  me? 

Phil.     Tyndar,  O  king,  came  lately  from  the 
Of  Ferrex,  to  my  lord  your  younger  son,     [court 
And  made  report  of  great  prepared  store 
For  war,  and  saith  that  it  is  wholly  meant 
Against  Porrex,  for  high  disdain  that  he 


I2O 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  III.,  Sc.  i 


Lives  now  a  king,  and  egal  in  degree 

With  him  that  claimeth  to  succeed  the  whole, 

As  by  due  title  of  descending  right. 

Porrex  is  now  so  set  on  flaming  fire, 

Partly  with  kindled  rage  of  cruel  wrath, 

Partly  with  hope  to  gain  a  realm  thereby, 

That  he  in  haste  prepareth  to  invade 

His  brother's  land,  and  with  unkindly  war 

Threatens  the  murder  of  your  elder  son  ; 

Ne  could  I  him  persuade,  that  first  he  should 

Send  to  his  brother  to  demand  the  cause ; 

Nor  yet  to  you,  to  stay  this  hateful  strife. 

Wherefore,  sith  there  no  more  I  can  be  heard, 

I  come  myself  now  to  inform  your  grace, 

And  to  beseech  you,  as  you  love  the  life 

And  safety  of  your  children  and  your  realm, 

Now  to  employ  your  wisdom  and  your  force, 

To  stay  this  mischief  ere  it  be  too  late. 

Gorb.     Are  they  in  arms  ?  would  he  not  send 
Is  this  the  honour  of  a  father's  name?     [to  me? 
In  vain  we  travail  to  assuage  their  minds  : 
As  if  their  hearts,  whom  neither  brother's  love, 
Nor    father's    awe,  nor  kingdom's    cares    can 

move, 

Our  councils  could  withdraw  from  raging  heat. 
Jove  slay  them  both,  and  end  the  cursed  line  ! 
For  though,  perhaps,  fear  of  such  mighty  force 
As  I,  my  lords,  joined  with  your  noble  aids, 
May  yet  raise,  shall  repress  their  present  heat ; 
The  secret  grudge  and  malice  will  remain, 
The  fire  not  quench 'd,  but  kept  in  close  restraint, 
Fed  still  within,  breaks  forth  with  double  flame  : 
Their  death  and  mine  must   'pease  the  angry 

gods. 
Phil.     Yield  not,  O  king,  so  much  to  weak 

despair : 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  III.,  Sc.  I  121 

Your  sons  yet  live ;  and  long,  I  trust,  they  shall. 
If  fates  had  taken  you  from  earthly  life, 
Before  beginning  of  this  civil  strife, 
Perhaps  your  sons  in  their  unmaster'd  youth, 
Loose  from  regard  of  any  living  wight, 
Would  run  on  headlong,  with  unbridled  race, 
To  their  own  death,  and  ruin  of  this  realm. 
But  sith  the  gods,  that  have  the  care  for  kings, 
Of  things  and  times  dispose  the  order  so, 
That  in  your  life  this  kindled  flame  breaks  forth, 
While  yet  your  life,   your  wisdom,  and  your 

pow'r, 

May  stay  the  growing  mischief,  and  repress 
The  fiery  blaze  of  their  inkindled  heat; 
It  seems,  and  so  ye  ought  to  deem  thereof, 
That  loving  Jove  hath  temper 'd  so  the  time 
Of  this  debate  to  happen  in  your  days, 
That  you  yet  living  may  the  same  appease, 
And  add  it  to  the  glory  of  your  latter  age, 
And  they  your  sons  may  learn  to  live  in  peace. 
Beware,  O  king,  the  greatest  harm  of  all, 
Lest  by  your  wailful  plaints  your  hastened  death 
Yield  larger  room  unto  their  growing  rage  : 
Preserve  your  life,  the  only  hope  of  stay. 
And  if  your  highness  herein  list  to  use 
Wisdom  or  force,  council  or  knightly  aid, 
Lo  we,  our  persons,  pow'rs,  and  lives  are  yours  : 
Use  us  till  death ;  O  tdn^,  we  are  your  own. 

Eub.    Lo  here  the  peril  that  was  erst  foreseen, 
When  you,  O  king,  did  first  divide  your  land, 
And  yield  your  present  reign  unto  your  sons. 
But  now,  O  noble  prince,  now  is  no  time 
To  wail  and  plain,  and  waste  your  woeful  life ; 
Now  is  the  time  for  present  good  advice — 
Sorrow  doth  dark  the  judgment  of  the  wit. 
"  The  heart  unbroken,  and  the  courage  free 


122 


Ferrex  and  Porrex.  Act  III..  Sc.  I 


"  From  feeble  faintness  of  bootless  despair, 
* '  Doth  either  rise  to  safety  or  renown 
"  By  noble  valour  of  unvanquish'd  mind; 
"  Or  yet  doth  perish  in  more  happy  sort." 
Your  grace  may  send  to  either  of  your  sons 
Some  one  both  wise  and  noble  personage, 
Which  with  good  counsel,  and  with  weighty 
Of  father,  shall  present  before  their  eyes    [name 
Your  hest,  your  life,  your  safety  and  their  own, 
The  present  mischief  of  their  deadly  strife : 
And  in  the  while,  assemble  you  the  force 
Which  your  commandment,  and  the  speedy 
Of  all  my  lords  here  present  can  prepare,    [haste 
The  terror  of  your  mighty  pow'r  shall  stay 
The  rage  of  both,  or  yet  of  one  at  least. 

Nunt.     O  king,  the  greatest  grief  that  ever 

prince  did  hear, 

That  ever  woeful  messenger  did  tell, 
That  ever  wretched  land  hath  seen  before, 
I  bring  to  you/:  Porrex  your  younger  son, 
With  sudden  force  invaded  hath  the  land 
That  you  to  Ferrex  did  allot  to  rule ; 
And  with  his  own  most  bloody  hand  he  hath      v 
His  brother  slain,  and  doth  possess  his  realm. 

Gorb.7  O  heav'ns  !  send  down  the  flames  of 

your  revenge. 

Destroy,  I  say,  with  flash  of  wreakful  fire, 
The  traitor  son,  and  then  the  wretched  sire  ! 
But  let  us  go,  that  yet  perhaps  I  may 
Die  with  revenge,  and  'pease  the  hateful  gods. 


CHORUS. 

The  lust  of  kingdom  knows  no  sacred  faith, 
No  rule  of  reason,  no  regard  of  right, 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  III.,  Sc.  I  123 

No  kindly  love,  no  fear  of  heaven's  wrath  : 
But  with  contempt  of  gods,  and  man's  despite, 
Through    bloody    slaughter   doth    prepare   the 
To  fatal  sceptre,  and  accursed  reign  :         [ways 
The  son  so  loathes  the  father's  ling'ring  days, 
Ne  dreads  his  hand  in  brother's  blood  to  stain. 
O  wretched  prince,  ne  dost  thou  yet  record 
The  yet  fresh  murders  done  within  the  land 
Of  thy  forefathers,  when  the  cruel  sword 
Bereft  Morgan  his  life  with  cousin's  hand? 
Thus  fatal  plagues  pursue  the  guilty  race, 
Whose  murderous  hand,  imbru'd  with  guiltless 

blood, 

Asks  vengeance  still  before  the  heavens'  face, 
With  endless  mischiefs  on  the  cursed  brood. 
The  wicked  child  thus  brings  to  woeful  sire 
The  mournful  plaints  to  waste  his  very  life ; 
Thus  do  the  cruel  flames  of  civil  fire 
Destroy  the  parted  reign  with  hateful  strife  f 
And  hence  doth  spring  the  well  from  which  doth 

flow 
The  dead  black  streams  of  mourning,  plaints, 

and  woe. 


THE  ORDER  AND  SIGNIFICATION  OF  THE  DUMB 

SHOW    BEFORE   THE    FOURTH    ACT 

FIRST  the  music  of  hautboys  began  to  play,  during 
which  there  came  from  under  the  stage,  as  though  out 
of  hell,  three  furies,  Alecto,  Megera,  and  Ctesiphone, 
clad  in  bra~ck~garnrents  sprinkled  with  blood  and  flames, 
their  bodies  girt  with  snakes,  their  heads  spread  with 
serpents  instead  of  hair,  the  one  bearing  in  her  hand 
a  snake,  the  other  a  whip,  and  the  third  a  burning 
firebrand,  each  driving  before  them  a  king  and  a  queen, 
which,  moved  by  furies,  unnaturally  had  slain  their 
own  children.  The  names  of  the  kings  and  queens  were 
these,  Tantalus,  Medea,  Athamas,  Ino,  Cambyses, 
Althea;  after  that  the  furies  and  these  had  passed 
about  the  stage  thrice,  they  departed,  and  then  the 
music  ceased.  Hereby  was  signified  the  unnatural  mur 
ders  to  follow;  that  is  to  say,  Porrex  slanftfy  his  own 
mother,  and  of  King  Gorbuduc  and  Queen  Viden  killed 
by  their  own  subjects. 


A 
V 


ACT  IV.     SCENE   I. 

VIDEN  sola. 


iden.     Why  should  I  live,  and  linger  forth 
In  longer  life  to  double  my  distress  ?       [my  time 
O  me  most  woeful  wight,  whom  no  mishap, 
Long  ere  this  day  could  have  bereaved  hence. 
Mought  not  these  hands  by  fortune  or  by  fate 
Have  pierc'd  this  breast,  and  life  with  iron  reft? 
Or  in  this  palace  here,  where  I  so  long 
Have  spent  my  days,  could  not  that  happy  hour 


126 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  IV.,  Sc.  x 


Once,  once  have  hap'd,  in  which  these  hugy 

frames 

With  death  by  fall  might  have  oppressed  me  ? 
Or  should  not  this  most  hard  and  cruel  soil, 
So  oft  where  I  have  press 'd  my  wretched  steps, 
Sometime  had  ruth  of  mine  accursed  life, 
To  rend  in  twain  [and]  swallow  me  therein? 
So  had  my  bones  possessed  now  in  peace 
Their  happy  grave  within  the  closed  ground, 
And  greedy  worms  had  gnawn  this  pined  heart 
Without  my  feeling  pain  :  so  should  not  now 
This  living  breast  remain  the  ruthful  tomb 
Wherein  my  heart  yielden  to  death  is  graved  : 
Nor  dreary  thoughts  with  pangs  of  pining  grief, 
My  doleful  mind  had  not  afflicted  thus. 
O  my  beloved  son  !  O  my  sweet  child  ! 
My  dear  Ferrex,  my  joy,  my  life's  delight ! 
Is  my  beloved  son,  is  my  sweet  child, 
My  dear  Ferrex,  my  joy,  my  life's  delight, 
Murder'd  with  cruel  death  ?     O  hateful  wretch  ! 
O  heinous  traitor  both  to  heaven  and  earth  ! 
(  Thou,   Porrex,  thou    this    damned    deed    hast 

wrought ; 

Thou,  Porrex,  thou  shalt  dearly  bye  the  same  : 
Traitor  to  kin  and  kind,  to  sire  and  me,      \ 
To  thine  own  flesh,  and  traitor  to  thyself: 
The  gods  on  thee  in  hell  shall  wreak  thei[r] 

wrath, 

And  here  in  earth  this  hand  shall  take  revenge 
On  thee,  Porrex,  thou  false  and  caitif  wight : 
If  after  blood  so  eager  were  thy  thirst, 
And  murd'rous  mind  had  so  possessed  thee; 
If  such  hard  heart  of  rock  and  stony  flint 
Liv'd  in  thy  breast,  that  nothing  else  could  like 
Thy  cruel  tyrant's  thought  but  death  and  blood  : 
Wild  savage  beasts,  might  not  their  slaughter 
To  feed  thy  greedy  will,  and  in  the  midst     [serve 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  IV.,  Sc.  I  127 

Of  their  entrails  to  stain  thy  deadly  hands 
With  blood  deserv'd,  and  drink  thereof  thy  fill? 
Or  if  nought  else  but  death  and  blood  of  man 
Mought  please  thy  lust,  could  none  in  Britain 

land 

Whose  heart  be  torn  out  of  his  panting  breast 
With  thine  own  hand,  or  work  what  death  thou 
Suffice  to  make  a  sacrifice  to  'pease  [wouldst, 
That  deadly  mind  and  murderous  thought  in 

thee? 

But  he  who  in  the  selfsame  womb  was  wrapp'd 
Where  thou  in  dismal  hour  receivedst  life? 
Or  if  needs,  needs,  thy  hand  must  slaughter 

make,  [wound, 

Moughtest  thou  not  have  reach 'd  a  mortal 
And  with  thy  sword  have  pierc'd  this  cursed 

womb 

That  the  accursed  Porrex  brought  to  light, 
And  given  me  a  just  reward  therefore? 
So  Ferrex,  yet  sweet  life  mought  have  enjoyed, 
And  to  his  aged  father  comfort  brought,      [live. 
With  some  young  son  in  whom  they  both  might 
But  whereunto  waste  I  this  ruthful  speech, 
/To  thee  that  hast  thy  brother's  blood  thus  shed  ? 
sShall  I  still  think  that  from  this  womb  thou 

sprung? 

That  I  thee  bare  ?  or  take  thee  for  my  son  ? 
No,  traitor,  no  :  I  thee  refuse  for  mine ; 
Murderer,  I  thee  renounce,  thou  art  not  mine : 
Never,  O  wretch,  this  womb  conceived  thee, 
Nor  never  bode  I  painful  throes  for  thee. 
Changeling  to  me  thou  art,  and  not  my  child, 
Nor  to  no  wight  that  spark  of  pity  knew  : 
Ruthless,  unkind,  monster  of  nature's  work, 
Thou  never  suck'd  the  milk  of  woman's  breast, 
But  from  thy  birth  the  cruel  tiger's  teats 


128 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  IV.,  Sc.  2 


Have  nursed  thee,  nor  yet  of  flesh  and  blood 
Form'd  is  thy  heart,  but  of  hard  iron  wrought; 
And  wild  and  desert  woods  bred  thee  to  life. 
But  canst  thou  hope  to  'scape  my  just  revenge  ? 
Or  that  these  hands  will  not  be  wroke  on  thee  ? 
Dost  thou  not  know  that  Ferrex'  mother  lives, 
That  loved  him  more  dearly  than  herself? 
And  doth  she  live,  and  is  not  veng'd  on  thee? 


ACT  IV.     SCENE  II. 

GORBODUC.      AROSTUS.     EUBULUS.     PORREX. 
MARCELLA. 

Gorb.  We  marvel  much  whereto  this  ling 'ring 
Falls  out  so  long  :  Porrex  unto  our  court,     [stay 
By  order  of  our  letters  is  returned ; 
And  Eubulus  receiv'd  from  us  by  hest 
At  his  arrival  here,  to  give  him  charge 
Before  our  presence  straight  to  make  repair, 
And  yet  we  have  no  word  whereof  he  stays. 

Aros.     Lo  where  he  comes,  and  Eubulus  with 
him. 

Eub.    According  to  your  highness'  hest  to  me, 
Here  have  I  Porrex  brought,  even  in  such  sort 
As  from  his  wearied  horse  he  did  alight, 
For  that  your  grace  did  will  such  haste  therein. 

Gorb.     We  like  and  praise  this  speedy  will  in 

you, 

To  work  the  thing  that  to  your  charge  we  gave. 
Porrex,  if  we  so  far  should  swerve  from  kind, 
And  from  those  bounds  which  law  of  nature  sets, 
As  thou  hast  done  by  vile  and  wretched  deed, 
In  cruel  murder  of  thy  brother's  life; 
Our  present  hand  could  stay  no  longer  time, 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  IV.,  Sc.  2  129 

But  straight  should  bathe  this  blade  in  blood  of 
As  just  revenge  of  thy  detested  crime.         [thee, 
No;  we  should  not  offend  the  law  of  kind 
If  now  this  sword  of  ours  did  slay  thee  here  : 
For  thou  hast  murder 'd   him,   whose  heinous 

death 

Even  nature's  force  doth  move  us  to  revenge 
By  blood  again ;  and  justice  forceth  us 
To  measure  death  for  death,  thy  due  desert : 
Yet  sithens  thou  art  our  child,  and  sith  as  yet 
In  this  hard  case  what  word  thou  canst  allege 
For  thy  defence,  by  us  hath  not  been  heard, 
We  are  content  to  stay  our  will  for  that 
Which  justice  bids  us  presently  to  work; 
And  give  thee  leave  to  use  thy  speech  at  full, 
If  aught  thou  have  to  lay  for  thine  excuse. 

Porr.     Neither,  O  king,  I  can  or  will  deny, 
But  that  this  hand  from  Ferrex  life  hath  reft : 
Which  fact  how  much  my  doleful  heart  doth 
wail, 

0  !  would  it  mought  as  full  appear  to  sight 
As  inward  grief  doth  pour  it  forth  to  me. 
So  yet  perhaps,  if  ever  ruthful  heart 
Melting  in  tears  within  a  manly  breast, 

Through  deep  repentance  of  his  bloody  fact,  ^£- 

If  ever  grief,  if  ever  woeful  man 

Might  move  regret  with  sorrow  of  his  fault, 

1  think,  the  torment  of  my  mournful  case 
Known  to  your  grace,  as  I  do  feel  the  same, 
Would  force  even  wrath  herself  to  pity  me. 
But  as  the  water  troubled  with  the  mud,      [see, 
Shows  not  the  face  which  else  the  eye  should 
Even  so  5^our  ireful  mind  with  stirred  thought 
Cannot  so  perfectly  discern  my  cause. 

But  this  unhap,  amongst  so  many  heaps 
I  must  content  me  with;  most  wretched  man, 
ED.  K 


130 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  IV.,  Sc.  2 


That  to  myself  I  must  reserve  my  woe, 
In  pining  thoughts  of  mine  accursed  fact : 
Since  I  may  not  show  here  my  smallest  grief, 
Such  as  it  is,  and  as  my  breast  endures, 
Which  I  esteem  the  greatest  misery 
Of  all  mishaps  that  fortune  now  can  send. 
Not  that  I  rest  in  hope  with  plaint  and  tears 
To  purchase  life ;  for  to  the  gods  I  clepe  ^  <k  J 
For  true  record  of  this  my  faithful  speech ; 
Never  this  heart  shall  have  the  thoughtful  dread 
To  die  the  death  that  by  your  grace's  doom, 
-By  just  desert,  shall  be  pronounc'd  to  me  : 
Nor  never  shall  this    tongue    once    spend    the 
Pardon  to  crave,  or  seek  by  suit  to  live,    [speech 
I  mean  not  this,  as  though  I  were  not  touch 'd 
With  care  of  dreadful  death,  or  that  I  held 
Life  in  contempt ;  but  that  I  know  the  mind 
Stoops  to  no  dread,  although  the  flesh  be  frail : 
And  for  my  guilt,  I  yield  the  same  so  great, 
As  in  myself  I  find  a  fear  to  sue 
For  grant  of  life. 

Gorb.     In  vain,  O  wretch,  thou  show'st 
A  woeful  heart;  Ferrex  now  lies  in  grave, 
Slain  by   thy   hand. 

Porr.     Yet  this,  O  father,  hear; 
And  then  I  end  :  Your  majesty  well  knows 
That  when  my  brother  Ferrex  and  myself 
By  your  own  hest  were  join'd  in  governance 
Of  this  your  grace's  realm  of  Britain  land, 
I  never  sought  nor  travail 'd  for  the  same; 
Nor  by  myself,  nor  by  no  friend  I  wrought, 
But  from  your  highness'  will  alone  it  sprung, 
Of  your  most  gracious  goodness  bent  to  me, 
But  how  my  brother's  heart  e'en  then  repin'd 
With  swol'n  disdain  against  mine  egal  rule, 
Seeing  that  realm  which  by  descent  should  grow 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  IV.,  Sc.  2  131 

Wholly  to  him,  allotted  half  to  me? 

E'en  in  your  highness'  court  he  now  remains, 

And  with  my  brother  then  in  nearest  place, 

Who  can  record  what  proof  thereof  was  show'd, 

And  how  my  brother's  envious  heart  appear 'd. 

Yet  I  that  judged  it  my  part  to  seek 

His  favour  and  good-will,  and  loth  to  make 

Your  highness  know  the  things  which  should 

have  brought 

Grief  to  your  grace,  and  your  offence  to  him, 
Hoping  my  earnest  suit  should  soon  have  won 
A  loving  heart  within  a  brother's  breast, 
Wrought  in  that  sort,  that^or  a  pledge  of  love 
And  faithful  heart  he  gave  to  me  his  hand. 
This  made  me  think  that  he  had  banish 'd  quite 
All  rancour  from  his  thought,  and  bare  to  me 
Such  hearty  love,  as  I  did  owe  to  him  : 
But  after  once  we  left  your  grace's  court, 
And  from  your  highness'  presence  liv'd  apart, 
This  egal  rule  still,  still,  did  grudge  him  so, 
That  now  those  envious  sparks  which  erst  lay 
In  living  cinders  of  dissembling  breast,     [rak'd 
Kindled  so  far  within  his  heart  disdain, 
That  longer  could,  he  not  refrain  from  proof 
Of  secret  practice  to  deprive  me  life 
By  poison's  force;  and  had  bereft  me  so, 
If  mine  own  servant,  hired  to  this  fact, 
And  mov'd  by  troth  with  hate  to  work   the 
In  time  had  not  bewray 'd  it  unto  me.         [same, 
When  thus  I  saw  the  knot  of  love  unknit, 
All  honest  league  and  faithful  promise  broke. 
The  law  of  kind  and  troth  thus  rent  in  twain, 
His  heart  on  mischief  set,  and  in  his  breast 
Black  treason  hid ;  then,  then,  did  I  despair 
That  ever  time  could  win  him  friend  to  me ;     v 
Then  saw  I  how  he  smil'd  with  slaying  knife 

K   2 


132 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  IV.,  Sc.  2 


Wrapp'd  under  cloafk;  then  saw  I  deep  deceit 
Lurk  in  his  face,  and  death  prepar'd  for  me  : 
Even  nature  mov'd  me  then  to  hold  my  life 
More  dear  to  me  than  his,  and  bad  this  hand, 
Since  by  his  life  my  death  must  needs  ensue, 
And  by  his  death  my  life  to  be  preserv'd, 
To  shed  his  blood,  and  seek  my  safety  so; 
And  wisdom  willed  me,  without  protract, 
In  speedy  wise  to  put  the  same  in  ure. 
Thus  have  I  told  the  cause  that  moved  me 
To  work  my  brother's  death,  and  so  I  yield 
My  life,  my  death,  to  judgment  of  your  grace. 

Gorb.   O  cruel  wight,  should  any  cause  prevail 
To  make  thee  stain  thy  hands  with  brother's 
But  what  of  thee  we  will  resolve  to  do       [blood  ? 
Shall  yet  remain  unknown  :vthou  in  the  mean 
Shalt  from  our  royal  presence  banish 'd  be, 
Until  our  princely  pleasure  further  shall 
To  thee  be  show'd  ;  'depart  therefore  our  sight, 
Accursed  child  !    What  cruel  destiny. 
What  froward  fate  hath  sorted  us  this  chance, } 
That  even  in  those  where  we  should  comfort 
Where  our  delight  now  in  our  aged  days  [find ; 
Should  rest  and  be,  even  there  our  only  grief 
And  deepest  sorrows  to  abridge  our  life, 
Most  pining  cares  and  deadly  thoughts  do  grow. 

Aros.     Your  grace  should  now,  in  these  grave 

years  of  yours 

Have  found  ere  this  the  price  of  mortal  joys; 
How  short  they  be ;  how  fading  here  in  earth  ; 
How  full  of  change ;  how  brittle  our  estate ; 
Of  nothing  sure,  save  only  of  the  death, 
To  whom  both  man  and  all  the  world  doth  owe 
Their  end  at  last;  neither  should  nature's  power 
In  other  sort  against  your  heart  prevail, 
Than  as  the  naked  hand  whose  stroke  assays 


( 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  IV.,  Sc.  2  133 

The  armed  breast  where  force  doth  light  in  vain. 

Gorb.     Many  can  yield  right  sage  and  grave 

advice 

Of  patient  sprite  to  others  wrapp'd  in  woe; 
And  can  in  speech  both  rule  and  conquer  kind ; 
Who  if  by  proof  they  might  feel  nature's  force, 
Would  show  themselves  men  as  they  are  indeed, 
Which  now  will  needs  be  gods.     But  what  doth 

mean 
The  sorry  cheer  of  her  that  here  doth  come  ? 

Mar.     O,  where  is  ruth?  or  where  is  pity 
Whither  is  gentle  heart  and  mercy  fled  ?     [now  ? 
Are  they  exil'd  out  of  our  stony  breasts, 
Never  to  make  return  ?     Is  all  the  world 
Drowned  in  blood,  and  sunk  in  cruelty? 
If  not  in  women  mercy  may  be  found, 
If  not,  alas,  within  the  mother's  breast, 
To  her  own  child,  to  her  own  flesh  and  blood ; 
If  ruth  be  banish 'd  thence ;  if  pity  there 
May  have  no  place ;  if  there  no  gentle  heart 
Do  live  and  dwell,  where  should  we  seek  it  then  ? 

Gorb.    Madam,  alas,  what  means  your  woeful 
tale? 

Mar.     O  silly  woman  I ;  why  to  this  hour 
Have  kind  and  fortune  thus  deferred  my  breath 
That  I  should  live  to  see  this  doleful  day? 
Will  ever  wight  believe  that  such  hard  heart 
Could  rest  within  the  cruel  mother's  breast?" 
With  her  own  hand  to  slay  her  only  son? 
But  out  alas,  these  eyes  beheld  the  same  : 
They  saw  the  dreary  sight,  and  are  becomen 
Most  ruthful  records  of  the  bloody  fact. 
Porrex,  alas,  is  by  his  mother  slain, 
And  with  her  hand,  a  woeful  thing  to  tell, 
While  slumbering  on  his  careful  bed  he  rests, 
His  heart  stab'd  in  with  knife  is  reft  of  life. 


134 


rerrex  and  Porrex,  Act  IV.,  Sc.  2 


Gorb.     O  Eubulus,   O,  draw  this  sword  of 
ours,  [light, 

And  pierce  this  heart  with  speed.     O  hateiul 
O  loathsome  life,  O  sweet  and  welcome  death  ! 
Dear  Eubulus,  work  this  we  thee  beseech. 

Eub.     Patient  your  grace,  perhaps  he  liveth 

yet, 
With  wound  receiv'd,  but  not  of  certain  death. 

Gorb.     O  let  us  then  repair  unto  the  place, 
And  see  if  Porrex  live,  or  thus  be  slain. 

Mar.     Alas,  he  liveth  not !  it  is  too  true. 
That  with  these  eyes,  of  him  a  peerless  prince, 
Son  to  a  king-,  and  in  the  flower  of  youth, 
Even  with  a  twink  a  senseless  stock  I  saw. 

Aros.     O  damned  deed. 
/      Mar.     But  hear  his  ruthful  end  : 
(  The  noble  prince,  pierc'd  with  the  sudden  wound, 
Out  of  his  wretched  slumber  hastily  start, 
Whose  strength  now  failing,  straight  he  over 
threw, 

When  in  the  fall  his  eyes  even  now  unclos'd 
Beheld  the  queen,  and  cry'd  to  her  for  help. 
We  then,  alas,  the  ladies  which  that  time 
Did  there  attend,  seeing  that  heinous  deed, 
And  hearing  him  oft  call  the  wretched  name 
Of  mother,  and  to  cry  to  her  for  aid, 
Whose  direful  hand  gave  him  the  mortal  wound, 
Pitying  (alas,  for  nought  else  could  we  do) 
His  ruthful  end,  ran  to  the  woeful  bed, 
Despoiled  straight  his  breast,  and,  all  we  might, 
Wiped  in  vain  with  napkins  next  at  hand 
The  sudden  streams  of  blood  that  flushed  fast 
Out  of  the  gaping  wound.     O,  what  a  look  ! 
O,  what  a  ruthful,  stedfast  eye,  methought 
He  fix'd  upon  my  face,  which  to  my  death 
Will  never  part  fro  me  !  when  with  a  braid, 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  IV.,  Sc.  2  135 

A  deep  set  sigh  he  gave,  and  therewithal 
Clasping  his  hands,  to  heav'n  he  cast  his  sight ; 
And  straight  pale  death  pressing  within  his  face, 
The  flying  ghost  his  mortal  corps  forsook. 

Aros.     Never  did  age  bring  forth  so  vile  a 
fact! 

Mar.  O  hard  and  cruel  hap,  that  thus  assigned 
Unto  so  worthy  a  wight  so  wretched  end  : 
But  most  hard  cruel  heart,  that  could  consent 
To  lend  the  hateful  destinies  that  hand, 
By  which,  alas,  so  heinous  crime  was  wrought ! 
O  queen  of  adamant !  O  marble  breast ! 
If  not  the  favour  of  his  comely  face, 
If  not  his  princely  cheer  and  countenance, 
His  valiant  active  arms,  his  manly  breast, 
If  not  his  fair  and  seemly  personage, 
His  noble  limbs,  in  such  proportion  cast 
As  would  have  rap'd  a  silly  woman's  thought; 
If  this  mought  not  have  mov'd  thy  bloody  heart, 
And  that  most  cruel  hand,  the  wretched  weapon 
E'en  to  let  fall,  and  kiss  him  in  the  face, 
With  tears  for  ruth  to  reave  such  one  by  death  : 
Should  nature  yet  consent  to  slay  her  son? 
O  mother,  thou  to  murder  thus  thy  child  ? 
E'en  Jove   with  justice   must   with    lightning 
flames  [on  thee. 

From  heaven  send  down  some  strange  revenge 
Ah,  noble  prince,  how  oft  have  I  beheld 
Thee  mounted  on  thy  fierce  and  trampling  steed, 
Shining  in  armour  bright  before  the  tilt, 
And  with  thy  mistress'  sleeve  tied  on  thy  helm, 
And  charge  thy  staff  to  please  thy  lady's  eye, 
That  bow'd  the  head-piece  of  thy  friendly  foe? 
How  oft  in  arms  on  horse  to  bend  the  mace? 
How  oft  in  arms  on  foot  to  break  the  sword  ? 
Which  never  now  these  eyes  may  see  again. 


136 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  IV.,  Sc.  2 


Aros.     Madam,  alas,  in  vain  these  plaints  are 
Rather  with  me  depart,  and  help  to  suage  [shed, 
The  thoughtful  griefs  that  in  the  aged  king 
Must  needs  by  nature  grow  by  death  of  this 
His  only  son,  whom  he  did  hold  so  dear. 

Mar.     What  wight  is  that  which  saw  that  I 

did  see, 

And  could  refrain  to  wail  with  plaint  and  tears  ? 
Not  I,  alas  !  that  heart  is  not  in  me : 
But  let  us  go,  for  I  am  griev'd  anew, 
To  call  to  mind  the  wretched  father's  woe. 


CHORUS. 

When  greedy  lust  in  royal  seat  to  reign 
Hath  reft  all  care  of  gods  and  eke  of  men, 
And  cruel  heart,  wrath,  treason  and  disdain, 
Within  ambitious  breast  are  lodged,  then 
Behold  how  mischief  wide  herself  displays, 
And  with  the  brother's  hand  the  brother  slays. 

When  blood  thus  shed  doth  stain  the  heaven's 
Crying  to  Jove  for  vengeance  of  the  deed,    [face 
'the  mighty  God  e'en  moveth  from  his  place 
With  wrath  to  wreak ;  then  sends  he  forth  with 

speed 

The  dreadful  furies,  daughters  of  the  night, 
With  serpents  girt,  carrying  the  whip  of  ire, 
With  hair  of  stinging  snakes,  and  shining  bright 
With  flames  and  blood,  and  with  a  brand  of  fire  : 
These  for  revenge  of  wretched  murder  done, 
EXo  make  the  mother  kill  her  only  son. 

Blood  asketh  blood,  and  death  must  death  re- 
Jove  by  his  just  and  everlasting  doom  [quite  : 
Justly  hath  ever  so  requited  it ; 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  IV.,  Sc.  2  137 

The  times  before  record,  and  times  to  come 
Shall  find  it  true,  and  so  doth  present  proof 
Present  before  our  eyes  for  our  behoof. 

O  happy  wight,  that  suffers  not  the  snare 
Of  murderous  mind  to  tangle  him  in  blood ; 
And  happy  he,  that  can  in  time  beware 
By  others'  harms,  and  turn  it  to  his  good  : 
But  woe  to  him,  that  fearing  not  t'  offend, 
Doth  serve  his  lusti  and  will  not  see  the  end. 


THE  ORDER  AND  SIGNIFICATION  OF  THE  DUMB 
SHOW  BEFORE  THE  FlFTH  ACT 

FIRST  the  drums  and   flutes  began   to   sound,   during 
•  .which  there  came  forth   upon   the   stage   a   company   oi 

harquebusiers  and  of  armed  men,  all  in  order  of  battle. 
These,  after  their  pieces  discharged,  and  that  the  armed 
men  had  three  times  marched  about  the  stage,  departed, 
and  then  the  drums  and  flutes  did  cease.  Hereby  was 
signified  tumults,  rebellions,  arms  and  civil  wars  to 
follow,  as  fell  in  the  realm  of  Great  Britain,  which  by 
the  space  of  fifty  years  and  more,  continued  in  civil 
war  between  the  nobility  after  the  death  of  King 
Gorboduc  and  of  his  issues,  for  want  of  certain  limita 
tion  in  succession  of  the  crown,  till  the  time  of  Dunwallo 
Molmutius,  who  reduced  the  land  to  monarchy. 


ACT  V.     SCENE  I. 

CLOTYN.    MANDUD.    GWENARD.    FERGUS. 
EUBULUS. 

Clo.     Did  ever  age  bring  forth  such  tyrants' 

hearts? 

The  brother  hath  bereft  the  brother's  life; 
pM     The  mother  she  hath  dyed  her  cruel  hands 
In  blood  of  her  own  son,  and  now  at  last 
The  people,  lo,  forgetting  troth  and  love, 
Contemning  quite  both  law  and  loyal  heart, 
E'en  they  havq  slain  their  sovereign  lord,  and 
queen. 


140 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  V.,  Sc.  i 


Man.     Shall  this  their  traitorous  crime  un- 

punish'd  rest? 

E'en  yet  they  cease  not,  carried  on  with  rage, 
In  their  rebellious  routs,  to  threaten  still 
A  new  bloodshed  unto  the  prince's  kin, 
To  slay  them  all,  and  to  uproot  the  race 
Both  of  the  king-  and  queen,  so  are  they  mov'd 
With  Porrex'  death,  wherein  they  falsely  charge 
The  guiltless  king  without  desert  at  all, 
And  trait 'rously  have  murdered  him  therefore, 
And  eke  the  queen. 

Given.     Shall  subjects  dare  with  force    , 
To  work  revenge  upon  their  prince's  fact? 
Admit  the  worst  that  may,  as  sure  in  this   fc 
The  deed  was  foul,  the  queen  to  slay  her  son, 
Shall  yet  the  subject  seek  to  take  the  sword, 
Arise  against  his  lord,  and  slay  his  king? 

0  wretched  state,  where  those  rebellious  hearts 
Are  not  rent  out  e'en  from  their  living  breasts, 
And  with  the  body  thrown  unto  the  fowls 

As  carrion  food,  for  terror  of  the  rest. 

Ferg.     There  can  no  punishment  be  thought 

too  great 

For  this  so  grievous  crime  :  let  speed  therefore 
Be  us'd  therein,  for  it  behoveth  so. 

Eub.     Ye  all,  my  lords,  I  see,  consent  in  one, 
And  I  as  one  consent  with  ye  in  all. 

1  hold  it  more  than  need,  with  sharpest  law 
To  punish  this  tumultuous  bloody  rage  : 

For  nothing  more  may  shake  the  common  state 
Than  sufferance  of  uproars  without  redress ; 
Whereby  how  some  kingdoms  of  mighty  power, 
After  great  conquests  made,  and  flourishing 
In  fame  and  wealth,  have  been  to  ruin  brought, 
I  pray  to  Jove  that  we  may  rather  wail 
Such  hap  in  them,  than  witness  in  ourselves. 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  V.,  Sc.  x  141 

Eke  fully  with  the  duke  my  mind  agrees, 
Though  kings  forget  to  govern  as  they  ought, 
Yet  subjects  must  obey  as  they  are  bound. 
But  now,  my  lords,  before  ye  farther  wade, 
Or  spend  your  speech,  what  sharp  revenge  shall 

fall 

By  justice'  plague  on  these  rebellious  wights ; 
Methinks,  ye  rather  should  first  search  the  way 
By  which  in  time,  the  rage  of  this  uproar 
Mought  be  repress 'd,  and  these  great  tumults 

ceased. 

Even  yet  the  life  of  Britain  land  doth  hang 
In  traitors  balance  of  unegal  weight; 
Think  not,  my  lords,  the  death  of  Gorboduc, 
Nor  yet  Videna's  blood  will  cease  their  rage  : 
E'en  our  own  lives,  our  wives  and  children 

dear, 

Our  country,  dear'st  of  all,  in  danger  stands 
Now  to  be  spoil'd;  now,  now  made  desolate, 
And  by  ourselves  a  conquest  to  ensue. 
For,  give  once  sway  unto  the  people's  lusts, 
To  rush  forth  on,  and  stay  them  not  in  time, 
And  as  the  stream  that  rolleth  down  the  hill, 
So  will  they  headlong  run  with  raging  thoughts 
From  blood  to  blood,  from  mischief  unto  moe, 
To  ruin  of  the  realm,  themselves  and  all : 
So  giddy  are  the  common  people's  minds, 
So  glad  of  change,  more  wavering  than  the  sea. 
Ye  see,  my  lords,  what  strength  these  rebels 
What  hugy  number  is  assembled  still :     [have ; 
For  though  the  traitorous  fact  for  which  they 

rose  [field ; 

Be  wrought  and  done,  yet  lodge  they  still  in 
So  that  how  far  their  furies  yet  will  stretch 
Great  cause  we  have  to  dread.     That  we  may 

seek 


.    ;  • 


142 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  V.,  Sc.  I 


. 


" 


By  present  battle  to  repress  their  power, 
Speed  must  we  use  to  levy  force  therefore; 
For  either  they  forthwith  will  mischief  work, 
Or  their  rebellious  roars  forthwith  will  cease  : 
'These  violent  things  may  have  no  lasting-  long. 
Let  us  therefore  use  this  for  present  help; 
Persuade  by  gentle  speech,  and  offer  grace, 
With  gift  of  pardon,  save  unto  the  chief, 
And  that  upon  condition  that  forthwith 
They  yield  the  captains  of  their  enterprise 
To  bear  such  guerdon  of  their  traitorous  fact,* 
As  may  be  both  due  vengeance  to  themselves, 
And  wholesome  terror  to  posterity. 
This  shall,  I  think,  scatter  the  greatest  part 
That  now  are  holden  with  desire  of  home, 
Weaned  in  field  with  cold  of  winter's  nights, 
And  some,  no  doubt,  stricken  with  dread  of  law. 
When  this  is  once  proclaimed,  it  shall  make 
The  captains  to  mistrust  the  multitude, 
Whose  safety  bids  them  to  betray  their  heads ; 
And  so  much  more,  because  the  rascal  routs, 
In  things  of  great  and  perilous  attempts, 
Are  never  trusty  to  the  noble  race. 
And  while  we  treat  and  stand  on  terms  of  grace, 
We  shall  both  stay  their  fury's  rage  the  while, 
And  eke  gain  time,  whose  only  help  sufficeth 
Withouten  war  to  vanquish  rebels'  power. 
In  the  mean  while,  make  you  in  readiness 
Such  band  of  horsemen  as  ye  may  prepare  : 
Horsemen,  you   know,   are  not   the  commons 

strength, 

But  are  the  force  .and  store  of  noble  men, 
Whereby  the  unchosen  and  unarmed  sort 
Of  skilless  rebels,  whom  none  other  power 
But  number  makes  to  be  of  dreadful  force, 
With  sudden  brunt  may  quickly  be  oppress 'd. 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  V.,  Sc.  i  143 

And  if  this  gentle  mean  of  proffer 'd  grace, 
With  stubborn  hearts  cannot  so  far  avail 
As  to  assuage  their  desp'rate  courages, 
Then  do  I  wish  such  slaughter  to  be  made, 
As  present  age  and  eke  posterity 
May  be  adrad  with  horror  of  revenge, 
That  justly  then  shall  on  these  rebels  fall : 
This  is,  my  lords,  the  sum  of  mine  advice. 

Clo.     Neither    this    case    admits    debate    at 
large ;  [said 

And  though  it  did,  this  speech  that  hath  been 
Hath  well  abridged  the  tale  I  would  have  told. 
Fully  with  Eubulus  do  I  consent 
In  all  that  he  hath  said  :  and  if  the  same 
To  you,  my  lords,  may  seem  for  best  advice, 
I  wish  that  it  should  straight  be  put  in  ure. 

Man.     ft£y  lords,  then  let  us  presently  depart, 
And  follow  this  that  liketh  us  so  well. 

rFerg.  (  If  ever  time  to  gain  a  kingdom  here 
Were  offer 'd  man,  now  it  is  offer 'd  me.   ' 
The  realm  is  reft  both  of  their  king  and  queen ; 
The  offspring  of  the  prince  is  slain  and  dead  : 
No  issue  now  remains ;  the  heir  unknown ; 
A      •   -»  The  people  are  in  arms  and  mutinies; 

The  nobles  they  are  busied  how  to  cease 
These  great  rebellious  tumults  and  uproars ; 
And  Britain  land  now  desert  left  alone, 
Amid  these  broils  uncertain  where  to  rest, 
Offers  herself  unto  that  noble  heart 
That  will  or  dare  pursue  to  bear  her  crown. 
Shall  I,  that  am  the  duke  of  Albany, 
Descended  from  that  line  of  noble  blood, 
Which  hath  so  long  flourished  in  worthy  fame 
Of  valiant  hearts,  such  as  in  noble  breasts 
Of  right  should  rest  above  the  baser  sort, 
Refuse  to  venture  life  to  win  a  crown? 


144 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  V.,  Sc.  2 


Whom  shall  I  find  enemies  that  will  withstand 
My  fact  herein,  if  I  attempt  by  arms 
To  seek  the  same  now  in  these  times  of  broil? 
These  dukes'  power  can  hardly  well  appease 
The  people  that  already  are  in  arms  : 
But  if  perhaps  my  force  be  once  in  field, 
Is  not  my  strength  in  pow'r  above  the  best 
Of  all  these  lords  now  left  in  Britain  land  ? 
And  though  they  should  match  me  with  power 

of  men, 

Yet  doubtful  is  the  chance  of  battles  join'd  : 
If  victors  of  the  field  we  may  depart, 
Ours  is  the  sceptre  then  of  Great  Britain ; 
If  slain  amid  the  plain  this  body  lie, 
Mine  enemies  yet  shall  not  deny  me  this, 
But  that  I  died  giving  the  noble  charge, 
To  hazard  life  for  conquest  of  a  crown. 
Forthwith  therefore  will  I  in  post  depart 
To  Albany,  and  raise  in  armour  there 
All  pow  'r  I  can  :  and  here  my  secret  friends 
By  secret  practice  shall  solicit  still, 
To  seek  to  win  to  me  the  people's  hearts. 


ACT  V.     SCENE  II. 

EUBULUS.     CLOTYN.     MANDUD.     GWENARD. 
AROSTUS.     NUNTIUS. 

Eub.     O  Jove,  how  are  these  people's  hearts 

abus'd? 

What  blind  fury  thus  headlong  carries  them  ? 
That  though  so  many  books,  so  many  rolls 
Of  ancient  time,  record  what  grievous  plagues 
Light  on  these  rebels  aye,  and  though  so  oft 
Their  ears  have  heard  their  aged  fathers  tell 


Ferrex  and  Porrcx,  Act  V.,  Sc.  2  145 

What  just  reward  these  traitors  still  receive, 
Yea,  though  themselves  have  seen  deep  death 

and  blood, 

By  strangling  cord  and  slaughter  of  the  sword, 
To  such  assign'd,  yet  can  they  not  beware; 
Yet  can  not  stay  their  lewd  rebellious  hands  : 
But  suffering,  lo,  foul  treason  to  distain 
Their  wretched  minds,  forget  their  loyal  heart, 
Reject  all  truth,  and  rise  against  their  prince. 
A  ruthful  case,  that  those  whom  duty's  bond, 
Whom  grafted  law  by  nature,  truth,  and  faith, 
Bound  to  preserve  their  country  and  their  king, 
Born  to  defend  their  commonwealth  and  prince ; 
E'en  they  should  give  consent  thus  to  subvert 
Thee,  Britain  land,  and  from  thy  womb  should 

spring, 

O  native  soil,  those  that  will  needs  destroy 
And  ruin  thee,  and  eke  themselves  in  fine. 
For  lo,  when  once  the  dukes  had  offer'd  grace 
Of  pardon  sweet,  the  multitude,  misled 
By  traitorous  fraud  of  their  ungracious  heads, 
One  sort  that  saw  the  dangerous  success 
Of  stubborn  standing  in  rebellious  war, 
And  knew  the  difference  of  prince's  power 
From  headless  number  of  tumultuous  routs, 
Whom   common   country's   care,    and   private 

fear, 

;  Taught  to  repent  the  error  of  their  rage, 
Laid  hands  upon  the  captains  of  their  band, 
And    brought   them    bound    unto    the   mighty 

dukes  : 

And  other  sort,  not  trusting  yet  so  well 
The  truth  of  pardon,  or  mistrusting  more 
Their  own  offence,  than  that  they  could  con 
ceive 

Such  hope  of  pardon  for  so  foul  misdeed ; 
ED.  L 


146 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  V.,  Sc.  2 


Or  for  that  they  their  captains  could  not  yield, 
Who,  fearing  to  be  yielded,  fled  before, 
Stale  home  by  silence  of  the  secret  night : 
The  third  unhappy  and  enraged  sort 
Of  desp'rate  hearts,  who,  stain 'd  in  princes' 

blood, 

From  traitorous  furor  could  not  be  withdrawn 
By  love,  by  law,  by  grace,  ne  yet  by  fear, 
By  proffer 'd  life,  ne  yet  by  threaten 'd  death ; 
With  minds  hopeless  of  life,  dreadless  of  death, 
Careless  of  country,  and  aweless  of  God, 
Stood  bent  to  fight  as  furies  did  them  move, 
With  violent  death  to  close  their  traitorous  life. 
These  all  by  power  of  horsemen  were  oppress 'd, 
And  with  revenging  sword  slain  in  the  field, 
Or  with  the  strangling  cord  hang'd  on  the  tree; 
Where  yet  their  carrion  carcases  do  preach, 
The  fruits  that  rebels  reap  of  their  uproars, 
And  of  the  murder  of  their  sacred  prince. 
But  lo,  where  do  approach  the  noble  dukes, 
By    whom    those    tumults    have    been    thus 
/        appeas'd. 

Clo.     I  think  the  world  will  now  at  length 

beware, 

And  fear  to  put  on  arms  against  their  prince. 
Man.     If  not?  those  traitorous  hearts  that 

dare  rebel, 

Let  them  behold  the  wide  and  hugy  fields 
With  blood  and  bodies  spread  of  rebels  slain, 
The  lofty  trees  clothed  with  the  corpses  dead, 
That,  strangled  with  the  cord,  do  hang  thereon. 
Aros.     A    just    reward,    such    as    all    times 

before 

Have  ever  lotted  to  those  wretched  folks. 
Given.     But   what    means   he    that    cometh 

here  so  fast? 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  V.,  Sc.  2  147 

Nunt.     My  lords,  as  duty  and  my  troth  doth 

move, 

And  of  my  country  work  a  care  in  me, 
That  if  the  spending  of  my  breath  avail'd 
To  do  the  service  that  my  heart  desires, 
I  would  not  shun  t'  embrace  a  present  death ; 
So  have  I  now  in  that  wherein  I  thought 
My  travail  mought  perform  some  good  effect, 
Ventur'd  my  life  to  bring  these  tidings  here. 
/  Fergus,  the  mighty  duke  of  Albany, 
Is  now  in  arms,  and  lodgeth  in  the  field 
With  twenty  thousand  men ;  hither  he  bends 
His  speedy  march,   and  minds  to  invade  the 

crown  :  \ 
Daily    he    gathereth    strength,    and    spreads 

abroad, 

That  to  this  realm  no  certain  heir  remains, 
That  Britain  land  is  left  without  a  guide, 
That  he  the  sceptre  seeks  for  nothing  else 
But  to  preserve  the  people  and  the  land, 
Which  now  remain  as  ship  without  a  stern. 
Lo,  this  is  that  which  I  have  here  to  say. 

Clo.     Is  this  his  faith?  and  shall  he  falsely 

thus 

Abuse  the  vantage  of  unhappy  times  ? 
O  wretched  land,  if  his  outrageous  pride, 
His  cruel  and  untemper'd  wilfulness, 
His  deep  dissembling  shows  of  false  pretence, 
-Should  once  attain  the  crown  of  Britain  land  ! 
Let  us,  my  lords,  with  timely  force  resist 
The  new  attempt  of  this  our  common  foe,  \ 

As  we  would  quench  the  flames  of  common  fire. 
Man.     Though  we  remain  withfout]  a  certain 

prince 

To  wield  the  realm,  or  guide  the  wand 'ring  rule, 
Yet  now  the  common  mother  of  us  all, 

L    2 


148  Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  V.,  Sc.  2 

-, 

Our  native  land,  our  country,  that  contains 
Our  wives,  children,  kindred,  ourselves,  and  all 
That  ever  is  or  may  be  dear  to  man, 
Cries  unto  us  to  help  ourselves  and  her. 
Let  us  advance  our  powers  to  repress 
This  growing  foe  of  all  our  liberties. 

Gwen.     Yea,  let  us  so,  my  lords,  with  hasty 

speed — 

And  ye,  O  gods,  send  us  the  welcome  death 
To  shed  our  blood  in  field,  and  leave  us  not 
In  loathsome  life  to  linger  out  our  days, 
To  see  the  hugy  heaps  of  these  unhaps 
That  now  roll  down  upon  the  wretched  land, 
Where  empty  place  of  princely  governance, 
No  certain  stay  now  left  of  doubtless  heir, 
Thus  leave  this  guideless  realm  an  open  prey 
To  endless  storms  and  waste  of  civil  war. 

Aros.     That  ye,  my  lords,  do  so  agree  in  one, 
To  save  your  country  from  the  violent  reign 
And  wrongfully  usurped  tyranny 
Of  him  that  threatens  conquest  of  you  all, 
To  save  your  realm,  and  in  this  realm  your 
selves 

From  foreign  thraldom  of  so  proud  a  prince, 
Much  do  I  praise ;  and  I  beseech  the  gods, 
With  happy  honour  to  requite  it  you. 
But  O,  my  lords,  sith  now  the  heavens'  wrath 
Hath  reft  this  land  the  issue  of  their  prince, 
Sith  of  the  body  of  our  late  sovereign  lord 
Remains  no  moe,  since  the  young  kings  be  slain, 
And  of  the  title  of  descended  crown 
Uncertainly  the  divers  minds  do  think 
Even  of  the  learned  sort,  and  more  uncertainly 
Will  partial  fancy  and  affection  deem ; 
But  most  uncertainly  will  climbing  pride, 
And  hope  of  reign,  withdraw  to  sundry  parts 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  V.,  Sc.  2  149 

The  doubtful  right  and  hopeful  lust  to  reign. 
When  once  this  noble  service  is  achieved 
For  Britain  land,  the  mother  of  ye  all, 
When  once  ye  have  with  armed  force  repress 'd 
The  proud  attempts  of  this  Albanian  prince, 
That  threatens  thraldom  to  your  native  land, 
When  ye  shall  vanquishers  return  from  field, 
And  find  the  princely  state  an  open  prey 
To  greedy  lust,  and  to  usurping  power; 
Then,  then,  my  lords,  if  ever  kindly  care 
Of  ancient  honour  of  your  ancestors, 
Of  present  wealth  and  noblesse  of  your  stocks, 
Yea,  of  the  lives  and  safety  yet  to  come 
Of  your  dear  wives,  your  children,  and  your 
selves, 
Might   move   your   noble   hearts    with   gentle 

ruth, 

Then,  then,  have  pity  on  the  torn  estate; 
Then  help  to  salve  the  wellnear  hopeless  sore; 
Which  ye  shall  do,  if  ye  yourselves  withhold 
The   slaying   knife   from   your   own   mother's 

throat : 

Her  shall  you  save,  and  you,  and  yours  in  her, 
If  ye  shall  all  with  one  assent  forbear 
Once  to  lay  hand,  or  take  unto  yourselves 
The  crown,  by  colour  of  pretended  right, 
Or  by  what  other  means  soe'er  it  be, 
Till  first  by  common  counsel  of  you  all 
In  parliament,  the  regal  diadem 
Be  set  in  certain  place  of  governance; 
In  which  your  parliament,  and  in  your  choice, 
Prefer  the  right,  my  lords,  with[out]  respect 
Of  strength  or  friends,  or  whatsoever  cause 
That  may  set  forward  any  other's  part; 
For  right  will  last,  and  wrong  can  not  endure : 
Right,  mean  I  his  or  hers,  upon  whose  name 


150 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  V.,  Sc.  2 


The  people  rest  by  mean  of  native  line, 

Or  by  the  virtue  of  some  former  law 

Already  made  their  title  to  advance. 

Such  one,  my  lords,  let  be  your  chosen  king ; 

Such  one  so  born  within  your  native  land ; 

Such  one  prefer ;  and  in  no  wise  admit 

The  heavy  yoke  of  foreign  governance  : 

Let  foreign  titles  yield  to  public  wealth. 

And  with  that  heart  wherewith  ye  now  prepare 

Thus  to  withstand  the  proud  invading  foe, 

With  that  same  heart,  my  lords,  keep  out  also 

Unnatural  thraldom  of  strangers'  reign, 

Ne  suffer  you,  against  the  rules  of  kind, 

Your  mother  land  to  serve  a  foreign  prince. 

Eub.     Lo,  here  the  end  of  Brutus'  royal  line, 
And,  lo,  the  entry  to  the  woeful  wreck 
And  utter  ruin  of  this  noble  realm. 
The  royal  king,  and  eke  his  sons  are  slain ; 
No  ruler  rests  within  the  regal  seat ; 
The  heir,  to  whom  the  sceptre  longs,  unknown ; 
That  to  each  force  of  foreign  prince's  power, 
Whom   vantage   of   our   wretched    state   may 

move 

By  sudden  arms  to  gain  so  rich  a  realm ; 
And  to  the  proud  and  greedy  mind  at  home, 
Whom  blinded  lust  to  reign  leads  to  aspire. 
Lo,  Britain  realm  is  left  an  open  prey, 
A  present  spoil  by  conquest  to  ensue. 
Who  seeth  not  now  how  many  rising  minds 
Do  feed  their  thoughts  with  hope  to  reach  a 

realm  ? 

And  who  will  not  by  force  attempt  to  win 
So  great  a  gain  that  hope  persuades  to  have? 
A  simple  colour  shall  for  title  serve. 
Who  wins  the  royal  crown  will  want  no  right ; 
Nor  such  as  shall  display  by  long  descent 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  V.,  Sc.  2  151 

A  lineal  race  to  prove  him  lawful  king. 
In  the  meanwhile  these  civil  arms  shall  rage, 
And  thus  a  thousand  mischiefs  shall  unfold, 
And  far  and  near  spread  thee,  O  Britain  land ; 
All  right  and  law  shall  cease ;  and  he  that  had 
Nothing  to-day,  to-morrow  shall  enjoy 
Great  heaps  of  gold;   and  he  that  flow'd   in 

wealth, 

Lo,  he  shall  be  bereft  of  life  and  all ; 
And  happiest  he  that  then  possesseth  least : 
The  wives  shall  suffer  rape,  the  maids  deflour'd, 
And  children  fatherless  shall  weep  and  wail; 
With    fire   and    sword    thy   native    folk   shall 

perish  : 

One  kinsman  shall  bereave  another's  life ; 
The  father  shall  unwitting  slay  the  son ; 
The  son  shall  slay  the  sire,  and  know  it  not. 
Women  and  maids  the  cruel  soldiers'  swords 
Shall  pierce  to  death,  and  silly  children,  lo, 
That  play  in  the  streets  and  fields  are  found, 
By  violent  hand  shall  close  their  latter  day. 
Whom  shall  the  fierce  and  bloody  soldier 
Reserve   to   life?   whom   shall   he  spare  from 

death? 

E'en  thou,  O  wretched  mother,  half  alive, 
Thou  shalt  behold  thy  dear  and  only  child 
Slain  with  the  sword,  while  he  yet  sucks  thy 

breast.  [shed. 

Lo,    guiltless   blood   shall   thus   eachwhere   be 
Thus  shall  the  wasted  soil  yield  forth  no  fruit, 
But  dearth  and  famine  shall  possess  thejand. 
The  towns  shall  be  consum'd  and  burnt  with 
The  peopled  cities  shall  wax  desolate;        [fire; 
And  thou,  O  Britain,  whilom  in  renown, 
Whilom  in  wealth  and  fame,  shalt  thus  be  torn, 
Dismember'd  thus,  and  thus  be  rent  in  twain; 


2  Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  V.,  Sc.  2 

Thus    wasted    and    defaced,    spoiled    and    de 
stroyed  : 

These  be  the  fruits  your  civil  wars  will  bring. 
Hereto  it  comes,  when  kings  will  not  consent 
To  grave  advice,  but  follow  wilful  will. 
This  is  the  end,  when  in  fond  princes'  hearts 
Flattery  prevails,  and  sage  rede  hath  no  place. 
These  are  the  plagues,   when  murder   is  the 

mean 

To  make  new  heirs  unto  the  royal  crown. 
Thus  wreak  the  gods,  when  that  the  mother's 

wrath 
Nought  but  the  blood  of  her  own  child  may 

'suage. 

These  mischiefs  spring  when  rebels  will  arise 
To  work  revenge,  and  judge  their  prince's  fact. 
This,  this  ensues  when  noble  men  do  fail 
In  loyal  troth,  and  subjects  will  be  kings  : 
And  this  doth  grow,  when,  lo,  unto  the  prince 
Whom  death  or  sudden  hap  of  life  bereaves, 
No  certain  heir  remains,  such  certain  heir, 
As  not  all  only  is  the  rightful  heir 
But  to  the  realm  is  so  made  known  to  be, 
And  troth  thereby  vested  in  subjects'  hearts, 
To  owe  faith  there,  where  right  is  known  to  rest. 
Alas,  in  parliament  what  hope  can  be, 
When  is  of  parliament  no  hope  at  all  ? 
Which,  though  it  be  assembled  by  consent, 
Yet  is  not  likely  with  consent  to  end ; 
While  each  one  for  himself,  or  for  his  friend 
Against  his  foe,  shall  travail  what  he  may. 
While  now  the  state  left  open  to  the  man 
That  shall  with  greatest  force  invade  the  same 
Shall  fill  ambitious  minds  with  gaping  hope, 
When  will  they  once  with  yielding  hearts  agree  ? 
Or  in  the  while,  how  shall  the  realm  be  used  ? 


Ferrex  and  Porrex,  Act  V.,  Sc.  2  153 

No,    no;    then    parliament   should   have   been 

holden, 

And  certain  heirs  appointed  to  the  crown 
To  stay  the  title  of  established  right, 
And  in  the  people  plant  obedience, 
While  yet  the  prince  did  live,  whose  name  and 
By  lawful  summons  and  authority  [power 

Might  make  a  parliament  to  be  of  force, 
And  might  have  set  the  state  in  quiet  stay  : 
But  now,  O  happy  man,  whom  speedy  death 
Deprives  of  life,  ne  is  enforc'd  to  see 
These  hugy  mischiefs  and  these  miseries, 
These   civil  ;wars,    these   murders,    and    these 

wrongs/ 

Of  justice,  yet  must  God  in  fine  restore 
This  noble  crown  unto  the  lawful  heir : 
For  right  will  always  live,  and  rise  at  length^ 
But  wrong  can  never  take  deep  root  to  lastN 

THE  END  OF  THE  TRAGEDY  OF  FERREX  AND 
PORREX. 


[Colophon.] 

Imprinted   at   London   by   John   Daye,    dwelling  ouer 
Aldersgate. 


A     NOTE-BOOK     AND 
W  O  R  D-L I S  T 

INCLUDING 

CONTEMPORARY  REFERENCES,  BIBLIOGRAPHY, 
VARIORUM  READINGS,  NOTES,  &c.,  together 
with  a  GLOSSARY  OF  WORDS  AND  PHRASES 
now  Archaic  or  Obsolete ;  the  whole 
arranged  in  ONE  ALPHABET  IN  DICTIONARY 
FORM 


A   FOREWORD   TO    NOTE 
BOOK   AND    WORD-LIST 

Reference  from  text  to  Note-Book  is  copious,  and  as 
complete  as  may  be;  so  also,  conversely,  from  Note-Book 
to  text.  The  following  pages  may,  with  almost  absolute 
certainty,  be  consulted  on  any  point  that  may  occur  in 
the  course  of  reading;  but  more  especially  as  regards 

Biographical  and  other  Notes, 

Contemporary  References  to  Author  and  Plays, 

Bibliography, 

Variorum    Readings, 

Words  and  Phrases,  now  Obsolete  or  Archaic. 
The  scheme  of  reference  from  Note-Book  to  text  as 
sumes  the  division,  in  the  mind's  eye,  of  each  page  into 
four  horizontal  sections;  which,  beginning  at  the  top, 
are  indicated  in  the  Note-Book  by  the  letters  a,  b,  c,  d 
following  the  page  figure.  In  practice  this  will  be  found 
easy,  and  an  enormous  help  to  the  eye  over  the  usual 
reference  to  page  alone  in  "fixing"  the  "catchword." 
Thus  i26a  =  the  first  quarter  of  page  126;  ^oc  =  the  third 
quarter  of  page  40 ;  and  so  forth. 

Abbreviations. 

D.     Damon   and  Pithias. 

G.     Gorboduc  (otherwise   Ferrex   and    Porrex). 


NOTE-BOOK  AND  WORD-LIST 

TO  THE  DRAMATIC  WRITINGS  OF 

RICHARD   EDWARDS 

THOMAS   NORTON 

AND  THOMAS   SACKVILLE,  viz.: 

Damon  and  Pit  bias — Gorboduc  (or  Ferrex  and  P  or  rex} 

ABYE,  see  Bye. 

ACE,  "bate  me  an  ace,"  &c.  (D.  6oa),  not  in  Hey- 
wood's  Proverbs  (E.E.D.S.) ;  but,  in  The  Four 
P.P.,  he  has  "  I  pass  you  an  ace."  It  appears  in 
Ray's  collection.  He  remarks,  "  Who  this  Bolton 
was  I  know  not,  neither  is  it  worth  enquiring.  One 
of  this  name  might  happen  to  say,  Bate  me  an  ace, 
and,  for  the  coincidence  of  the  first  letters  of  the 
two  words  Bate  and  Bolton,  it  grew  to  be  a  proverb. 
We  have  many  of  the  like  original ;  as  v.g.  Sup, 
Simon,  &c.,  Stay,  quoth  Stringer,  &c.  There  goes  a 
story  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  that  being  presented  with 
a  Collection  of  English  Proverbs,  and  told  by  the 
author  that  it  contained  all  the  English  Proverbs,  nay, 
replied  she,  Bate  me  an  ace,  quoth  Bolton :  which 
Proverb  being  instantly  looked  for,  happened  to  be 
wanting  in  his  Collection."  Which  story  may,  or 
may  not,  be  authentic :  it  would  be  a  matter  of 
interest  to  know  who  was  the  "  author  "  referred  to, 
for  we  have  no  trace.  Still,  the  proverb  was  current 
long  before  Ray's  time,  as  there  are  numerous  illus 
trations  of  its  use — that  in  Damon  and  Pithias  is,  I 
fancy,  the  earliest  known.  In  The  Mastive,  by 
H.  P.  (?  Henry  Parrot),  published  in  1615,  occurs, 


158 


Note-Book  and  Word-List 


[ADRAD 


"  A  pamphlet  was  of  proverbs,  penn'd  by  Polton 
Wherein  he  thought  all  sorts  included  were ;  Until  one 
told  him,  Bate  m'  an  ace,  quoth  Bolton :  Indeed  (said 
he)  that  proverb  is  not  there." 

ADRAD,  "  posterity  may  be  adrad  "  (G.  1430),  afraid, 
frightened.  "The  lady  wase  nevyr  so  adrad." — 
Torrent  of  Portugal,  13.  "And  was  adrad  of  Gyle." 
—Chaucer,  Cant.  Tales  (1383),  558. 

ALBANIAN,  "  this  Albanian  prince  "  (G.  i^ga),  from 
Albion  =  Britain  :  said  to  have  been  so  called  by  Julius 
Caesar  on  account  of  its  chalky  cliffs. 

ALLOW,  "  whether  ye  allow  my  whole  device  "  (G.  940) 
— "  allow  it  well  "  (94^),  approve,  declare  to  be  true  : 
American  by  survival.  "  And  have  hope  toward  God 
which  they  themselves  also  allow,  that  there  shaL' 
be  a  resurrection  of  the  dead." — Bible,  Auth.  Vers. 
(1611),  Acts  xxiv.  15. 

ALOYSE,  "  aloyse,  aloyse,  how,  how  pretty  it  is  " 
(D.  6id),  the  text  is  probably  corrupt :  the  first  how 
may  =  Ho  ! 

AUTHORS,  "  the  time,  the  place,  the  authors  "  (D.  50), 
in  second  edition  author. 

BATE,  see  Ace. 

BEARD,  "  I  have  played  with  his  beard  "  (D.  ioa),  i.e. 

deceived  him,  deluded  him  :  there  are  several  variants 

of  the  phrase. 
BECOMEN,   "  becomen  most  ruthful   records  "  (G.  133^), 

become. 
BEES,   "  hath   bees   in   his   head  "  (D.  i3a),    is   choleric, 

angry  :  the  modern  "  bees  in  one's  bonnet  "  signifies 

a  degree  of  craziness  and  oddity  rather  than  temper. 

See  Udall,   Roister  Doister  (E.E.D.S.),  3oc. 
BEHIGHTETH,    "  such    as    their    kind     behighteth  to   us 

all"    (G.  940"),    promiseth.       "And    for    his    paines   a 

whistle  him  behight." — Spenser,  Fairy  Queen  (1596), 

IV.  xi.  6. 

BEHOOVEFUL,  "  What  further  means  behooveful  are  and 
meet  "  (G.  g6b),  desirable,  needful,  profitable.  "  And 
that  they  the  same  Gilde  or  fraternyte  myght  augu- 
mente  and  enlarge,  as  ofte  and  when  it  shuld  seme  to 


BUM]  Note-Book  and  Word-List  159 

theym  necessarie  and  behoufull,  .  .  ." — English  Gilds 
(1389-1450),  E.E.T.S.,  p.  310.  "  Jul.  No,  madam: 
we  have  cull'd  such  necessaries  As  are  behoveful  for 
our  state  to-morrow." — Shakspeare,  Rom.  and  Jul. 
(iS9S),  iv-  3  (Globe). 

BENTERS,  "  these  benters  "  (D.  59^),  Hazlitt  glosses  this 
word,  "  sacks  to  carry  coals,"  and  refers  to  the  Fr. 
benne  with  a  similar  meaning  :  which  may,  or  may 
not,  be.  A  little  lower  down  (6od)  debenters  is  used 
with,  apparently,  the  same  meaning.  Possibly  the 
word  is  from  bent  — a  coarse  reed  or  grass  used  in 
making  the  sacks  for  Grim's  coals:  some  varieties 
were  suitable  for  such  a  purpose. 

BLADE,  "I  will  blade  it  out"  (D.  28^),  Hazlitt  says  = 
blab  ;  but  surely  blade  is  here  used  in  the  same  sense 
as  a  modern  ruffian  would  say,  "  I'll  knife  it  out": 
cf.  blade  =  to  trim  hedges. 

BOB,  "  to  bear  the  bob  "  (D.  636),  made  a  fool  of, 
outwitted:  cf.  "give  the  dor."  "  C.  I  guess  the 
business.  S.  It  can  be  no  other  But  to  give  me  the 
bob,  that  being  a  matter  of  main  importance." — 
Massinger,  Maid  of  Honour  (1632),  iv.  5. 

BODE,  "  never  bode  I  painful  throes  for  thee  "  (G.  127^), 
from  bide  =  endure,  suffer.  "  Poor  naked  wretches, 
wheresoe'er  you  are,  That  bide  the  pelting  of  this 
pitiless  storm  !  " — Shakspeare,  Lear  (1605),  iii.  4. 

BOLTON,  see  Ace. 

BRAID,  "  with  a  braid  "  (G.  134^),  start,  rush,  sudden 
movement ;  such  as  a  toss  of  the  head,  a  sudden  blow, 
a  quick  retort.  "  Scho  brayd  hit  a-don  at  on  brayd," 
i.e.  she  threw  it  down  at  one  start  or  movement. — 
Seven  Sages  (Wright),  17. 

BRIARS,  "  left  his  friend  in  the  briars  "  (D.  66c),  in 
difficulty,  misfortune,  or  doubt.  "...  leaue  vs  your 
friendes  in  the  briers  and  betray  vs,  .  .  ." — Stow, 
Edward  VI.  (1552). 

BROOM,  see  New  broom. 

BRUTE,  "  the  mighty  Brute,  first  prince  of  all  this 
land  "  (G.  ggd)  :  see  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth,  i. 

BUM,  "  bum  troth  "  (D.  566),  by  my  troth. 


160  Note-Book  and  Word-List         [BUSSING 

BUSSING,  "  set  out  your  bussing  base  "  (D.  636),  i.e. 
an  indistinct  kind  of  humming  in  a  base  voice. 

BYE,  "  thou  shalt  dearly  bye  the  same  "  (G.  i26c),  i.e. 
abide  by  the  results :  see  previous  volumes  of  this 
series,  s.v.  Aby,  Abie,  &c. 

CAREFUL,  "  on  his  careful  bed  he  rests  "  (G.  133^),  bed 
of  care:  cf.  careful  for  =  anxious  for;  also  hateful  — 
full  of  hate. 

CAT  IN  PAN,  see  Oxford  English  Dictionary. 

CENTUM  PRO  CENTO  (D.  590),  in  allusion  to  usury  :  see 
previous  lines. 

CHA,  CHOULD,  CHWAS,  &c.  (passim),  the  conventional 
dialect  of  rustics  in  our  early  drama  :  see  previous 
volumes  of  this  series.  Edwards  was  a  Somerset 
shire  man,  and  this  "  dialect  "  nearly  approaches  that 
of  his  district. 

CLEPE,  "  for  to  the  gods  I  clepe "  (G.  1300),  call. 
"  They  clepe  us  drunkards,  and  with  swinish  phrase 
Tax  our  addition." — Shakspeare,  Hamlet  (1596),  i.  4. 

COBEX  EPI  (D.  53&),  see  Variorum  Readings,  s.v. 
Damon  and  Pithias,  infra :  Hazlitt  has  the  note, 
"  Colliers  used  to  be  nicknamed  '  Carry  coals,1  "  and 
alters  the  text  to  "  'tis  Coals  I  spy."  See  Nares, 
s.v.  Coals. 

COCK,  "  farewell,  Cock  "  (D.  650),  a  familiar  address. 


COLPHEG,  "I'll  colpheg  you"  (D.  456),  the  sense  is 
clear  enough — cudgel,  beat,  drub;  and,  for  the  rest, 
see  Murray  in  O.E.D. 

COMICAL,  "  in  comical  wise "  (D.  36),  i.e.  suited  to 
comedy.  "  Such  toys  to  see  as  heretofore  in  comical 
wise  were  wont  abroad  to  be." — Misogonus,  E.E.D.S., 
Anon.  Plays,  Series  2,  1356. 

CONTRIVED,  "  we  three  have  contrived  "  (D.  14^), 
passed,  spent :  Lat.  contrivi  from  contero.  "  Coyllus 
contrived  (contrivit)  all  his  youthe  in  the  service  of 
their  wars." — Trans,  of  Polydore  Vergil  (Camden 
Soc.),  i.  81.  "  Please  ye  we  may  contrive  this  after- 


DAMON  AND  PiTHiAs]  Note-Book  and  Word-List      161 

noon,  And  quaff  carouses  to  our  mistress'  health." — 
Shakspeare,   Tarn,   of  Shrew  (1593),   i.  2. 

COWARDISHE,  "  deemed  cowardishe  "  (G.  io8c), 
cowardice,  extreme  timidity. 

CRAB,  "  a  crab  in  the  fire  "  (D.  590),  see  other  volumes 
of  this  series. 

CRETIZO,  &c.  (D.  47c),  in  reference  to  the  double-dealing 
of  the  Cretans. 

CROYDEN,  "  a  right  Croyden  sanguine  "  (D.  62  a)  : 
Hazlitt  says,  "  From  the  manner  in  which  this  ex 
pression  is  used  by  Sir  John  Harington,  in  '  The 
Anatomic  of  the  Metamorphosis  of  Ajax,'  1596, 
sig.  L,  7,  it  seems  as  though  it  was  intended  for  a 
sallow  hue. — '  Both  of  a  complexion  inclining  to  the 
oriental  colour  of  a  Croyden  sanguine.'  ' 

DAMON  AND  PITHIAS.  The  text  of  this  play,  which  will 
be  found  on  pp.  1-84,  has  been  taken  from  the  edition 
of  1571,  which,  in  turn,  has  been  collated  with  that 
of  1582.  Copies  of  both  editions  are  in  the  British 
Museum.  It  has  been  reprinted  in  modern  times, 
(a)  in  Dodsley's  Select  Collection  of  Old  Plays,  1744, 
vol.  i.  ;  (b)  ibid.,  1780,  ed.  Reed,  vol.  i.  ;  (c)  ibid., 
1825-7,  ed-  Collier,  vol.  i.  ;  (d)  ibid.,  1876,  ed. 
Hazlitt,  vol.  iv.  ;  (e)  in  Ancient  British  Drama,  1810, 
ed.  Sir  W.  Scott,  vol.  i.  In  accordance  with  the 
general  scheme  of  this  series,  the  spelling  in  the 
present  text  has  been  modernised,  save  in  a  few 
instances  of  rhyme-endings,  or  of  words  that  seemed 
to  require,  or  for  some  reason  were  worthy  of,  a 
special  note  :  the  punctuation  has  also  been  altered 
where  the  sense  seemed  to  demand  it.  The 
author  was  Richard  Edwards  (q-v.),  and  although 
he  wrote  other  plays  this  is  the  only  one  ex 
tant  (see  Palamon  and  Arcyte,  &c.).  A  reduced 
facsimile  of  the  title-page  of  the  edition  of  1571  is 
given  on  p.  i.  The  original  is  a  black-letter  quarto 
of  thirty  leaves,  and  seems  to  have  been  licensed  to 
the  printer  in  1568.  In  all  probability,  therefore,  the 
editio  princeps  has  been  lost.  This  is  the  more 
likely,  inasmuch  as  the  title-page  of  the  1571  copy 
speaks  of  its  being  "  newly  imprinted  ";  and  also  as 
ED.  M 


1 62      Note- Book  and  Word- List  [DAMON  AND  PITHIAS 

"  the  same  .  .  .  except  the  Prologue  that  is  some 
what  altered."  It  is  uncertain  when  it  was  first  pro 
duced  :  some  authorities  regard  it  as  identical  with 
the  tragedy  by  Edwards  which  was  performed  before 
the  Queen  at  Richmond  by  the  children  of  the  chapel 
in  1564-5.  If  this  assumption  is  correct,  then  the 
date  of  Damon  and  Pithias  may  be  placed  about 
1 563-5  •'  and>  °f  course,  it  must  have  been  written 
before  1566,  when  Edwards  died.  The  plot  turns 
upon  the  nature  of  friendship — the  selfishness  of  the 
assumed  article  and  the  self-denial  of  the  real.  For 
this  purpose  the  story  in  Valerius  Maximus,  of 
Damon  and  Pithias,  serves  as  a  medium.  Edwards 's 
production  was  the  first  English  tragedy  on  a  classical 
subject  that  we  know  of.  This  and  his  other  literary 
efforts  were  highly  esteemed  by  his  contemporaries 
and  successors  :  he  is  spoken  of  as  a  man  ol  ready 
wit  and  varied  parts — "  the  best  fiddler,  the  best 
mimic,  and  the  best  sonneteer  of  the  Court."  Pos 
terity,  too,  in  the  main  confirms  the  verdict.  His 
latest  exponent,  Professor  Gayley,  in  an  admirable 
and  exhaustive  "  Historical  View  of  English 
Comedy  "  prefaced  to  Representative  English  Come 
dies  (Macmillan  Co.,  1903),  regards  Damon  and 
Pithias  as  a  step  "  significant  in  literary  history." 
It  is  (he  continues)  "  not  only  entirely  free  from 
allegorical  elements,  and  almost  from  didactic,  but 
it  is  rich  in  qualities  of  the  fusion  drama.  The  sub 
ject  of  a  classical  story  is  handled  in  a  genuinely 
romantic  fashion,  although  no  previous  drama  of 
romantic  friendship  had  existed  in  England.  Comic 
and  serious  strains  flow  side  by  side,  occasionally 
mingling.  A  quick  satire,  dramatic  and  personal, 
pervades  the  play.  The  names  and  scenes  may  be 
Syracusan,  and  types  from  Latin  comedy  may  walk 
the  streets,  but  the  life  is  of  the  higher  and  lower 
classes  of  England  ;  and  the  creatures  of  literary  tradi 
tion  are  elbowed  and  jostled  by  children  of  the  soil. 
The  farcical  episodes  may  be  indelicate,  but  they 
have  the  virility  of  fact.  The  plot  as  a  whole  is 
skilfully  conducted ;  while  it  proceeds  directly  to  the 
goal,  it  encompasses  a  wider  variety  of  ethical  inter 
ests,  dramatic  motives,  and  attractions,  than  that  of 
any  previous  play."  To  other  productions  from 


DAMON  AND  FiTHiAs]  Note-Book  and  Word-List      163 

Ed  wards  's  pen  a  like  meed  of  praise  was  given  and 
is  due  (see  Edwards,  Palamon  and  Arcite,  &c.). 

Variorum  Readings,  Corrigenda,  &>c.  —  [Where 
not  otherwise  attributed,  the  var.  readings  are  those 
of  the  edition  of  1582.]  —  "The  time,  the  place,  the 
authors"  ($a),  author;  "  Lo,  this  I  speak"  (50), 
spake;  "  [Exit.  [Here  entereth,"  &c.  ($a),  delete  the 
"  [  "  in  each  instance;  "  Lovers  of  wisdom  are  termed 
philosophy  "  (50),  so  in  both  editions  :  Hazlitt  reads 
(as  suggested  by  Collier)  "  Loving  of  wisdom  is 
termed  philosophy  ,"  but  possibly  the  second  *  in  the 
philosophic  of  the  black-letter  original  is  a  misprint 
for  r,  or  a  battered  letter,  thus  #0tfofiOi)0t£  (philo- 
sophre),  a  common  enough  form  for  philosopher  — 
the  singular  inflection  with  a  plural  tense,  or  vice 
versa,  is  not  uncommon  ;  "  Let  him  roll  in  his  tub  to 
win  "  (6b),  original  To  ;  "  you  are  a  grave  bencher  " 
(7a)>  great;  ''do  best  thrive"  (jb),  do  omitted; 
"Spread  in  this  town"  (yd),  the  ;  "  Farewell,  friend 
Aristippus  "  (go),  friend  omitted;  "  Consuit  amici- 
tias  "  (gb)t  the  original  has  consultat  ;  "  Where[as],  in 
deed  "  (9^),  as  not  in  original;  "  I  meant  it  not" 
(lob),  meane  ;  "  a  right  pattern  thereof"  (lob),  original 
has  patron  (M.E.  from  Fr.  patron,  which  still  =  "  pa 
tron  "  and  "  pattern  "  :  by  1700  the  original  form 
[0.E.D.]  ceased  to  be  used  of  things,  and  the  two 
words  became  differentiated  in  form  and  sense)  ; 
"Exeunt"  (nc),  original  has  Exit  ;  "he  cometh 
home  broken  "  (lie),  it;  "And  to  creep  into  men's 
bosoms  "  (iid),  bosome  ;  "  and  seeks  to  please  "  (i2c), 
seeketh  ;  "laughed  out  with  a  scoff"  (136),  grace  ; 
"  and  playing  quietly  "  (i3&),  quickly  ;  "  [Exeunt  " 
;  "\~ 


,  delete  the  "[";  "\Who~]  whispered  in  mine 
ear"  (i7a),  not  in  original;  "  Steph.  (aside).  With 
such  "  (170),  (aside)  not  in  original;  "in  utramque  " 
(ijd),  utranque  in  original;  "through  worldly  things  " 
(i8b),  so  in  both  editions  :  Dodsley  (and  Hazlitt 
follows  him)  reads  though,  but  the  sense  is  good  as 
it  was  originally,  and  is  still  preserved  in  the  present 
text;  "this  world  was  like  a  stage"  (igc),  is  lyke 
unto  a  ;  "  Omne  solum  forti  patria  "  (igd),  read 
partia  :  both  original  editions  have  "  Omnis  solum 
fortis  patria  "  ;  "  Die  mihi  .  .  .  et  urbes  "  (23  b  and  c), 
in  original  editions,  "  Die  mihi  musa  virum  capt&  post 

M    2 


1 64      Note-Book  and  Word-List  [DAMON  AND  PITHIAS 

tempore  Trojce,  Multorum  hominum  mores  qui  vidit 
et  urbis  "  ;  "[Aside."  (23^),  not  in  original;  "This 
is  he,  fellow  Snap,  snap  him  up  "  (246),  so  in 
original,  but  Hazlitt  unnecessarily  altered  this  to 
"  This  is  the  fellow  :  Snap,  snap  him  up  "  ;  "  Where 
he  hath  dapsiles  .  .  .  zonam  "  (24^),  in  the  original 
this  is  nonsense,  containing  words  unknown  in  Latin  : 
it  there  reads,  "  Dapsilce  ccenas  gemalis  lectes,  et 
auro,  Fulgentii  turgmani  zonam  "  :  both  this  piece  of 
Latin  and  the  preceding  one  (23  fe)  are  altered  in  the 
Museum  copy  to  the  text  as  now  given,  but  there 
is  no  trace  as  to  who  made  these  corrections  in  red 
ink  in  the  margins;  "some  pleasant  toy  "  (24^),  in 
original  tyoe  ;  "  Auri  talentum  "  (250),  Aure  ;  "  [Here 
entereth  Carisophus  "  (25^),  not  in  original;  "  I  will 
lay  on  mouth"  (27^),  lay  on  with  my  mouth; 
"  [Aside]  If  I  speak  "  (27^),  the  [Aside]  not  in 
original;  "why  would  he  then  pry"  (28a),  should; 
"  [Exeunt."  (28^),  not  in  original;  "  in  joyful  times  " 
(29^),  so  in  original  :  Mr.  Collier  proposed  to  read 
times;  "since  that  I  hear"  (30^),  seeing;  "Damon 
my  friend  should  die"  (30^),  must ;  "with  speed 
now  stop  my  breath  "  (30^),  come  ;  "  [Pithias  retires." 
(32^),  not  in  original;  "  [Pithias  comes  forward." 
(33&),  not  in  original ;  "  Then  bow  on  me  "  (33^), 
unto  ;  "  But  you  shall  further  two  "  (33^),  in  original 
too ;  "  But  yet,  O  mighty  King  "  (37a),  omitted  in 
first  edition,  but  supplied  in  the  second  ;  "  I  find  this 
justice  "  (37a),  the  comma  after  "  dignity  "  in  the 
previous  line  should  be  deleted,  and  a  semi-colon  or 
a  dash  should  be  inserted  after  this  :  the  passage 
then  reads  well  enough  as  in  the  original ;  "  upon 
suspicion  of  such  things"  (37&),  each  in  original; 
"  who  in  opinion  of  simpleness  have  "  foSa),  in 
original  editions,  where  opinion  simplenesse  have ; 
"  Here  Gronno  [and  Snap]  bring  in  "  (38^),  [and 
Snap]  not  in  original ;  "to  despatch  this  inquiry  " 
(39<i),  in  original  injurie ;  "my  life  to  pay"  (400), 
yeelde  speedily;  "[Aside."  (406),  not  in  original; 
"  my  life  I  pawn  "  (40^),  to  ;  "  Take  heed,  for  life, 
worldly  men,"  &c.  (41??),  this  line,  I  am  sorry  to 
say,  has  got  badly  used  :  the  original  editions  read, 
"Take  heed:  for  life  wordly  men,"  &c.  :  I  should 
have  printed,  "  Take  heed  for  life  :  wordly  men  " 


DAMON  AND  piTHiAs]  Note-Book  and  Word-List      165 

(  =  great  talkers,  men  full  of  words),  &c. — Hazlitt 
reads,  "  Take  heed  for  [your]  life,"  &c.,  but  I  appre 
hend  your  is  not  necessary  to  the  sense,  and  worldly 
in  the  next  line  should  be  wordly  ;  "  [Exit  Damon." 
(430),  not  in  original;  "  Cretizo  cum  Cre tense  " 
(47c),  Cretiso  in  original;  "  [Aside."  (47<0,  not  in 
original;  "  Omnis  .  .  .  color"  (5O&),  colore  in 
original ;  "  Unsearched  to  enter  his  chamber,  which 
he  hath  made  barbers  his  beard  to  shave  "  (51^),  so 
in  original  :  Hazlitt  reads  while  for  which,  making 
sense  of  a  sort,  but  I  think  the  only  alteration  of  the 
original  that  is  needed  is  to  re-punctuate  the  text — 
delete  the  comma  after  chamber  and  insert  a  semi 
colon  after  made ;  "  mar  your  monkey's  face  " 
(516),  the  original  spelling  in  both  cases  is  monckes  ; 
"  Gave  never  a  blow  again  "  (5 id),  geve  ;  "  Cobex 
epi  coming  yonder  "  (53&),  Is  has  inadvertently  been 
omitted  from  the  present  text  :  Hazlitt  reads,  "  'tis 
Coals  I  spy  ";  "  Jack.  Was  it  you  "  (53^),  It  was; 
"Do  they  not  say"  (540),  Doth ;  "Good  faith, 
Master  Grim"  (54<i),  Father;  "a  capon  [to  your 
pay.]  "  &c.  (54^),  to  your  pay  not  in  original  :  sup 
plied  by  Hazlitt;  "Are  these  such  great  hose?" 
(556),  in  second  but  not  in  first  edition  ;  "  Nay,  you 
should  find  fau't  "  (55c),  fau't  should  have  been 
printed  fault,  the  original  being  faught,  an  old  form  : 
Hazlitt  inserts  not  between  "  should  "  and  "  find," 
but  the  sense  is  clear  as  in  the  original — a  war  of 
words  is  in  progress,  and  the  collier  will  not  admit 
that  his  "  chaff  "  about  the  breeches  is  fault-finding, 
for  that  is  Jack's  prerogative  :  in  the  previous  line 
the  second  edition  reads  what  fault  can  you  see 
here,  instead  of  "  can  you  find  any  fault  here  " ; 
"these  monsters  first"  (550),  hose  at;  "  Will,  hold 
this  railing  knave  "  (55^),  Well  in  original;  "  [Enter 
Jack,"  &c.  (566),  delete  the  "[";  "  Jebit  .  .  . 
Zawne  "  (56^),  so  in  both  editions  :  read  Je  bois 
a  vous  mon  compagnon.  .  .  .  J'ai  vous  pleige,  petit 
Zawne ;  "When  there  were  not"  (570),  was; 
"  Colliers  have  a  very  trim  life  "  (59^),  merie  ;  "  quod 
Bolton "  (6oa),  misprinted  in  original,  Boulon ; 
"[Aside."  (6od),  not  in  original;  "most  finely 
shaven  "  (64^),  trimly  ;  "  [Exeunt  "  (6sa),  original 
Exit;  "  H'ath  robbed  me"  (656),  original  Hath ; 


166  Note-Book  and  Word-List    [DEBENTERS 

''usque  ad  aras  "  (673),  original  auras  •  "  Amicitia 
inter  bonos  "  (6yd),  both  editions  bonns  ;  "  It  is  the 
gods'  judgment"  (69*:),  original  Gods  ;  "He  painted 
speech"  (69^),  vaunted;  "  and  striving  stream  I 
sail  "  (700),  streams  ;  "  [Ext*."  (yac),  not  in  original; 
"  golden  time  do  wear  away  "  (jSa),  so  in  both 
editions  :  Collier  and  Hazlitt  read  "  gold  in  time  does 
wear  away  ";  "  O  happy  Kings,  who  in  your  courts  " 
(79<2),  in  original  editions  O  happie  Kinges  within 
your  courtes;  "No  reason  the  hangman"  (Sib),  It 
is  no  reason  :  the  [Aside]  two  lines  above  is  not  in 
the  original;  "  Exeunt  Dion  [and  all,"  &c.  (Sid),  the 
stage  direction  within  the  brackets  is  not  in  original ; 
"  The  last  song  "  (84*1),  in  original  Finis  is  printed 
just  above  this  line,  and  below  the  second  Finis  at 
foot  appear  some  rude  stock  blocks. 

DEBENTERS,   see   Renters. 

DERIVED,  "great  fame  derived  down  to  them"  (G.  920), 
transmitted. 

DISHERITANCE  (G.  io8d),  disinheritance.  "  Having  chid 
me  almost  to  the  ruin  Of  a  disheritance." — Beau 
mont  and  Fletcher,  Fair  Maid  of  the  Inn,  ii.  2. 

DOLE,  "  happy  man  be  his  dole  "  (D.  ice),  see  other 
volumes  of  this  series. 

DOTTREL,  "  doating  dottrel  "  (D.  52^),  fool,  silly  fellow, 
dupe.  From  the  assumed  stupidity  of  the  bird  :  it 
being  said  to  be  so  foolishly  fond  of  imitation,  that 
it  suffers  itself  to  be  caught  while  intent  upon 
mimicking  the  gestures  of  the  fowler.  It  is  aptly 
described  by  Drayton  : — 

"  The  dotterel,  which  we  think  a  very  dainty  dish, 
Whose   taking  makes  such  sport,   as  no   man  more 

can  wish. 

For  as  you  creep,  or  cowr,  or  lie,  or  stoop,  or  go, 
So,  marking  you  with  care,  the  apish  bird  doth  do, 
And  acting  every  thing,  doth  never  mark  the  net, 
Till   he  be  in   the  snare  which   men  for  him   have 
set." 

— Drayton,    Poly-Olbion   (1612-22),   s.    25. 
"  Our  dotterel  then  is  caught." 

"  He  is,  and  just 
As  dotterels  use  to  be  :  the  lady  first 


EDWARDS  (RICHARD)]  Note-Book  and  Word-List      167 

Advanced    toward    him,    stretched    forth    her    wing, 

and  he 
Met  her  with  all  expressions." 

—May,   Old  Couple,   iii. 

DUP,  "  dup  the  gate  "  (D.  530),  open  :  cf.  "  dup  ye 
gyger»  to  open  the  dore  "  (Harman,  Caveat,  1814, 
66).  "And  dupped  the  chamber  door." — Shakspeare, 
Hamlet  (1596),  iv. 

DURING,  "  during  torments  "  (G.  io6b),  lasting  :  the 
pr.  par.  of  dure,  now  used  only  as  a  preposition. 

EDWARDS  (RICHARD),  the  author  of  Damon  and  Pithias, 
and  other  plays  not  now  extant,  was  born  in  Somerset 
shire  about  the  year  1523,  and  died  in  1566.  He 
was  educated  at  Corpus  Christi  College,  Oxford, 
taking  his  B.A.  degree  in  1544.  His  fellowship  came 
by  election  in  the  same  year,  and  three  years  later 
he  was  a  senior  student  of  Christ  Church  in  the  same 
University,  where  he  took  his  M.A.  degree.  In  the 
interval  (he  speaks  of  it  himself  in  The  Paradise  of 
Dainty  Devices),  "  when  in  youthful  years  .  .  .  young 
desire  pricked  him  forth  to  serve  in  Court,  a  slender, 
tall,  young  man."  He  does  not  say  in  what  capacity  ; 
and,  as  stated  above,  he  returned  to  Oxford,  prob 
ably  to  qualify  himself  for  the  post  he  afterwards 
held.  On  his  return  to  London  he  entered  himself 
at  Lincoln's  Inn,  but  he  does  not  appear  to  have 
practised  at  the  Bar,  a  not  uncommon  course  then,  as 
nowadays.  He  ultimately  became  one  of  the 
Gentlemen  of  the  Chapel  Royal,  and  in  1561  was 
appointed  Master  of  the  Children  of  the  Chapel.  He 
wrote  at  least  three  plays — Damon  and  Pithias,  and 
Parts  i  and  2  of  Palamon  and  Arcyte  (q.v.).  He 
was  also  the  compiler  of  a  very  popular  anthology — 
The  Paradise  of  Dainty  Devices,  a  collection  made, 
so  the  printer  tells  us,  "  for  private  use  "  by  "  one 
both  of  worship  and  credit."  The  why  and  where 
fore  of  this  "  private  "  collection,  which  was  after 
wards  to  receive  wide  publicity,  may,  most  likely,  be 
found  in  Edwards's  office,  as  a  special  point  is  made 
in  the  preface  of  the  earlier  edition  of  the  suitability 
of  the  pieces  for  musical  setting.  '  The  ditties  are 
both  pithy  and  pleasant,  and  will  yield  a  far  greater 


i68      Note-Book  and  Word-List  [EDWARDS  (RICHARD) 

delight  being  as  they  are  so  aptly  made  to  be  set  to 
any  song  in  five  parts,  or  sung  to  any  instrument." 
A  reduced  facsimile  of  the  title-page  of  the  edition 
of  1596  appears  on  p.  187  :  the  work  proved  to 
popular  taste,  and  ran  through  no  fewer  than  nine 
editions  between  the  years  1576  and  1606.  Not 
withstanding  this,  as  is  often  the  case  with  the  most 
popular  books — they  get  thumbed  and  torn  and 
dilapidated  through  use — copies  of  any  impression 
are  now  of  extreme  rarity.  Misogonus,  a  notable 
play  of  Edwards 's  time,  has  also  been  attributed  to 
the  author  of  Damon  and  Pithias.  Whether  there  are 
sound  and  solid  grounds  for  this  is  a  moot  point. 
The  evidence,  such  as  it  is,  is  stated,  but  without 
definite  conclusion,  in  E.E.D.S.,  Anon.  Plays, 
Series  2,  pp.  405-6.  Edwards  died  on  the  3ist 
October,  1566.  When  on  his  death-bed  he  is  said 
by  Wood  to  have  composed  a  noted  poem  called 
"  Edwards'  Soul  Knil  "  (knell),  or  the  "  Soul  Knil  of 
M.  Edwards,"  which  was  once  much  admired. 
Gascoigne  was  Wood's  authority,  but  the  author  of 
The  Steele  Glasse  seems  only  to  have  ridiculed 
the  piece  being  written  under  such  circumstances. 
Another  fact,  well  knowji  to  Shakspearean  scholars, 
seems  worthy  of  more  permanent  record  in  this  place. 
The  Stratford  poet's  allusion  to  the  poem  "  In  Com 
mendation  of  Music,"  commonly  attributed  to 
Edwards,  in  Romeo  and  Juliet  (see  E.E.D.S.,  Anon. 
Plays,  Series  2,  s.v.  Heartsease),  seems  to  point 
to  Shakspeare's  acquaintance  with  some  of  Edwards 's 
literary  productions.  It  may  also  be  that  the  Induc 
tion  to  Shakspeare's  Taming  of  the  Shrew  (or  its 
predecessor  :  see  Anon.  Plays  [E.E.D.S.],  Series  6) 
also  found  its  original  in  another  of  our  author's 
books,  now  unfortunately  for  the  most  part  if  not  al 
together  lost.  Warton  in  his  History  of  English 
Poetry  (iv.  117,  1824)  writes:  "Among  the  books 
of  my  friend,  the  late  Mr.  William  Collins,  of  Chi- 
chester,  now  dispersed,  was  a  collection  of  short  comic 
stories  in  prose,  printed  in  the  black  letter,  and,  in 
the  year  1570,  '  Set  forth  by  Maister  Richard  Ed- 
wardes,  Mayster  of  Her  Maiesties  Revels.'  '  Warton 
mistakes  (or  the  printer  did  so)  Edwards's  office  :  he 
was  not  "Master  of  the  Revels,"  but  "Master  of 


EDWARDS  (RICHARD)]  Note-Book  and  Word- List      169 

the  Children  of  the  Chapel."  Still,  Warton  speaks  as 
if  from  an  actual  sight  of  the  book  ;  and  Mr.  H.  G. 
Norton  in  the  Shakspeare  Society  Papers  (ii.  i),  writ 
ing  in  1845,  says,  "  I  apprehend  that  I  have  now  in 
my  hands  a  portion  of  a  reprint  [of  the  edition  dated 
1570]  containing  the  very  tale  on  which  the  Induction 
to  Shakspeare 's  '  Taming  of  the  Shrew,'  and  to  the 
older  '  Taming  of  a  Shrew,'  was  founded.  It  is  a 
mere  fragment  of  a  book,  and  contains  no  more  than 
this  story,  so  that  we  can  only  judge  of  its  date 
by  its  type  and  orthography  :  the  type  and  ortho 
graphy  appear  to  me  to  be  as  old  as  about  the  year 
1620  or  1630,  and  it  begins  upon  p.  59,  and  ends  upon 
p.  67.  Of  the  orthography  the  reader  will  be  able 
to  form  an  opinion  from  what  follows ;  and,  having 
been  a  student  of  old  books  for  the  last  twenty  or 
thirty  years,  I  think  I  can  speak  positively  to  the 
date  of  the  type,  which  is  rather  large  Roman  letter, 
much  worn  and  battered.  The  words,  '  the  fifth 
event,'  at  the  commencement,  show  that  four  stories 
preceded  it,  but  by  how  many  it  was  followed  it  is 
impossible  to  decide.  I  should  not  be  surprised  if 
the  old  language  of  1570  had  been  in  some  degree 
modernised  in  1620  or  1630,  but  upon  that  point  it  is 
not  necessary  for  me  to  offer  an  opinion.  If  my  con 
jecture  be  correct,  that  Ed  wards 's  story-book  of  1570 
was  reprinted  fifty  or  sixty  years  afterwards,  and  that 
my  five  leaves  are  a  portion  of  that  reprint,  we  have 
arrived  at  the  source  of  the  Induction  to  '  The  Taming 
of  a  Shrew  '  ;  for  I  take  it  for  granted  that  Shak 
speare 's  comedy  was  constructed  upon  the  older  play, 
in  which  the  Induction  stands,  in  substance,  as  it  is 
given  by  our  immortal  dramatist.  I  subjoin  a  verbatim 
et  literatim  copy  of  my  fragment."  So  far  Mr. 
Norton,  who  follows  on  with  the  copy  of  the  five 
leaves,  and  which,  for  the  sake  of  its  possible  con 
nection  with  the  author  of  Damon  and  Pithias,  I  also 
reproduce  here. 

"  THE  WAKING   MANS    DREAME. 

"  The  Fifth  Event. 

11  The  Greek  proverbe  saith,  that  a  man  is  but 
the  dreame  of  a  shaddow,  or  the  shaddow  of  a  dreame  ; 
is  there  then  anything  more  vaine  then  a  shadow, 


1 70      Note-Book  and  Word- List  [EDWARDS  (RICHARD) 

which  is  nothing  in  it  selfe,  being  but  a  privation  of 
light  framed  by  the  opposition  of  a  thicke  body  unto 
a  luminous?  is  there  any  thing  more  frivolous  then  a 
dreame,  which  hath  no  subsistence  but  in  the  hollow- 
nesse  of  a  sleeping  braine,  and  which,  to  speake  pro 
perly,  is  nothing  but  a  meere  gathering  together  of 
Chimericall  Images?  and  this  is  it  which  makes  an 
ancient  say,  that  we  are  but  dust  and  shadow  :  our 
life  is  compared  unto  those,  who  sleeping  dreame  that 
they  eate,  and  waking  find  themselves  empty  and 
hungry  ;  and  who  Is  he  that  doth  not  find  this  experi 
mented  in  himselfe,  as  often  as  he  revolves  in  his 
memory  the  time  which  is  past?  who  can  in  these 
passages  of  this  world  distinguish  the  things  which 
have  been  done  from  those  that  have  beene  dreamed? 
vanities,  delights,  riches,  pleasures,  and  all  are  past 
and  gone ;  are  they  not  dreames  ?  What  hath  our 
pride  and  pompe  availed  us?  say  those  poore  miser 
able  soules  shut  up  in  the  infernall  prisons  :  where  is 
our  bravery  become,  and  the  glorious  show  of  our 
magnificence?  all  these  things  are  passed  like  a  flying 
shadow,  or  as  a  post  who  hastens  to  his  journeyes 
end.  This  is  it  which  caused  the  ancient  Comicke 
Poet  to  say  that  the  world  was  nothing  but  an  uni- 
versall  Comedy  because  all  the  passages  thereof  serve 
but  to  make  the  wisest  laugh  :  and,  according  to  the 
opinion  of  Democritus,  all  that  is  acted  on  this  great 
Theater  of  the  whole  wo'rld,  when  it  is  ended,  differs 
in  nothing  from  what  hath  bin  acted  on  a  Players 
stage  :  the  mirrour  which  I  will  heere  set  before 
your  eyes  will  so  lively  expresse  all  these  verities,  and 
so  truly  shew  the  vanities  of  all  the  greatnesse  and 
opulencies  of  the  earth,  that  although  in  these  Events 
I  gather  not  either  examples  not  farre  distant  from  our 
times,  or  that  have  beene  published  by  any  other 
writer,  yet  I  beleeve  that  the  serious  pleasantnesse 
of  this  one  will  supply  its  want  of  novelty,  and  that 
its  repetition  will  neither  bee  unfruitfull  nor  unpleas- 
ing. 

"  In  the  time  that  Phillip  Duke  of  Burgundy  (who 
by  the  gentlenesse  and  curteousnesse  of  his  carriage 
purchaste  the  name  of  good)  guided  the  reines  of  the 
country  of  Flanders,  this  prince,  who  was  of  an 
humour  pleasing,  and  full  of  judicious  goodnesse, 


EDWARDS  (UICHARD)]  Note-Book  and  Word-List      171 

rather  then  silly  simplicity,  used  pastimes  which  for 
their  singularity  are  commonly  called  the  pleasures 
of  Princes  :  after  this  manner  he  no  lesse  shewed  the 
quaintnesse  of  his  wit  then  his  prudence. 

"  Being  in  Bruxelles  with  all  his  Court,  and  having 
at  his  table  discoursed  amply  enough  of  the  vanities 
and  greatnesse  of  this  world,  he  let  each  one  say  his 
pleasure  on  this  subject,  whereon  was  alleadged  grave 
sentences  and  rare  examples :  walking  towards  the 
evening  in  the  towne,  his  head  full  of  divers  thoughts, 
he  found  a  Tradesman  lying  in  a  corner  sleeping 
very  soundly,  the  fumes  of  Bacchus  having  surcharged 
his  braine.  I  describe  this  mans  drunkenesse  in  as 
good  manner  as  I  can  to  the  credit  of  the  party.  This 
vice  is  so  common  in  both  the  superior  and  inferiour 
Germany,  that  divers,  making  glory  and  vaunting 
of  their  dexterity  in  this  art,  encrease  their  praise 
thereby,  and  hold  it  for  a  brave  act.  The  good  Duke, 
to  give  his  followers  an  example  of  the  vanity  of  all 
the  magnificence  with  which  he  was  invironed,  de 
vised  a  meanes  farre  lesse  dangerous  than  that  which 
Dionysius  the  Tyrant  used  towards  Democles,  and 
which  in  pleasantnesse  beares  a  marvellous  utility. 
He  caused  his  men  to  carry  away  this  sleeper,  with 
whom,  as  with  a  blocke,  they  might  doe  what  they 
would,  without  awaking  him ;  he  caused  them  to 
carry  him  into  one  of  the  sumptuosest  parts  of  his 
Pallace,  into  a  chamber  most  state-like  furnished,  and 
makes  them  lay  him  on  a  rich  bed.  They  presently 
strip  him  of  his  bad  cloathes,  and  put  him  on  a  very 
fine  and  cleane  shirt,  in  stead  of  him  own,  which  was 
foule  and  filthy.  They  let  him  sleepe  in  that  place 
at  his  ease,  and  whitest  hee  settles  his  drinke  the 
Duke  prepares  the  pleasantest  pastime  that  can  be 
imagined. 

"  In  the  morning,  this  drunkard  being  awake  drawes 
the  curtaines  of  this  brave  rich  bed,  sees  himselfe  in 
a  chamber  adorned  like  a  Paradice,  he  considers  the 
rich  furniture  with  an  amazement  such  as  you  may 
imagine  :  he  beleeves  not  his  eyes,  but  layes  his 
fingers  on  them,  and  feeling  them  open,  yet  perswades 
himselfe  they  are  shut  by  sleep,  and  that  all  he  sees 
is  but  a  pure  dreame. 

"  Assoone  as  he  was  luiowne  to  be  awake,  in  comes 


172      Note-Book  and  Word-List  [EDWARDS  (RICHARD) 

the  officers  of  the  Dukes  house,  who  were  instructed 
by  the  Duke  what  they  should  do.  There  were  pages 
bravely  apparelled,  Gentlemen  of  the  chamber,  Gen 
tleman  waiters,  and  the  High  Chamberlaine,  who,  all 
in  faire  order  and  without  laughing,  bring  cloathing 
for  this  new  guest  :  they  honour  him  with  the  same 
great  reverences  as  if  hee  were  a  Soveraigne  Prince  ; 
they  serve  him  bare  headed,  and  aske  him  what  suite 
hee  will  please  to  weare  that  day. 

"  This  fellow,  affrighted  at  the  first,  beleeving  these 
things  to  be  inchantment  or  dreames,  reclaimed  by 
these  submissions,  tooke  heart,  and  grew  bold,  and 
setting  a  good  face  on  the  matter,  chused  amongst 
all  the  apparell  that  they  presented  unto  him  that 
which  he  liked  best,  and  which  hee  thought  to  be 
fittest  for  him  ;  he  is  accommodated  like  a  King,  and 
served  with  such  ceremonies,  as  he  had  never  scene 
before,  and  yet  beheld  them  without  saying  any  thing, 
and  with  an  assured  countenance.  This  done,  the 
greatest  Nobleman  in  the  Dukes  Court  enters  the 
chamber  with  the  same  reverence  and  honour  to  him 
as  if  he  had  been  their  Soveraigne  Prince  (Phillip  with 
Princely  delight  beholds  this  play  from  a  private 
place) ;  divers  of  purpose  petitioning  him  for  pardons, 
which  hee  grants  with  such  a  countinance  and  gravity, 
as  if  he  had  had  a  Crowne  on  his  head  all  his  life 
time. 

"  Being  risen  late,  and  dinner  time  approaching, 
they  asked  if  he  were  pleased  to  have  his  tables 
covered.  He  likes  that  very  well.  The  table  is  fur 
nished,  where  he  is  set  alone,  and  under  a  rich 
Canopie :  he  eates  with  the  same  ceremony  which 
was  observed  at  the  Dukes  meales ;  he  made  good 
cheere,  and  chawed  with  all  his  teeth,  but  only  drank 
with  more  moderation  then  he  could  have  wisht,  but 
the  Majesty  which  he  represented  made  him  refraine. 
All  taken  away,  he  was  entertained  with  new  and 
pleasant  things  :  they  led  him  to  walke  about  the  great 
Chambers,  Galleries,  and  Gardens  of  the  Pallace  (for 
all  this  merriment  was  played  within  the  gates,  they 
being  shut  only  for  recreation  to  the  Duke  and  the 
principall  of  his  Court)  :  they  shewed  him  all  the 
richest  and  most  pleasantest  things  therin,  and  talked 
to  him  thereof  as  if  they  had  all  beene  his,  which  he 


EDWARDS  (RICHARD)]  Note-Book  and  Word-List      173 

heard  with  an  attention  and  contentment  beyond 
measure,  not  saying  one  word  of  his  base  condition, 
or  declaring  that  they  tooke  him  for  another.  They 
made  him  passe  the  afternoone  in  all  kind  of  sports  ; 
musicke,  dancing,  and  a  Comedy,  spent  some  part  of 
the  time.  They  talked  to  him  of  some  State  matters, 
whereunto  he  answered  according  to  his  skill,  and  like 
a  right  Twelfetide  King. 

"  Super  time  approaching,  they  aske  this  new 
created  Prince  if  he  would  please  to  have  the  Lords 
and  Ladies  of  his  Court  to  sup  and  feast  with  him  ; 
whereat  he  seemed  something  unwilling,  as  if  hee 
would  not  abase  his  dignity  unto  such  familiarity  : 
neverlesse,  counterfeiting  humanity  and  affability,  he 
made  signes  that  he  condiscended  thereunto  :  he  then, 
towards  night,  was  led  with  sound  of  Trumpets  and 
Hoboyes  into  a  faire  hall,  where  long  Tables  were 
set,  which  were  presently  covered  with  divers  sorts 
of  dainty  meates,  the  Torches  shined  in  every  corner, 
and  made  a  day  in  the  midst  of  a  night  :  the  Gentle 
men  and  Gentlewomen  were  set  in  fine  order,  and  the 
Prince  at  the  upper  end  in  a  higher  seat.  The  ser 
vice  was  magnificent ;  the  musicke  of  voyces  and  in 
struments  fed  the  eare,  whilest  mouthes  found  their 
food  in  the  dishes.  Never  was  the  imaginary  Duke 
at  such  a  feast  :  carousses  begin  after  the  manner  of 
the  Country ;  the  Prince  is  assaulted  on  all  sides, 
as  the  Owle  is  assaulted  by  all  the  Birdes,  when  he 
begins  to  soare.  Not  to  seeme  uncivill  he  would  doe 
the  like  to  his  good  and  faithfull  subjects.  They 
serve  him  with  very  strong  wine,  good  Hipocras, 
which  hee  swallowed  downe  in  great  draughts,  and 
frequently  redoubled  ;  so  that,  charged  with  so  many 
extraordinaryes,  he  yeelded  to  deaths  cousin  german, 
sleep,  which  closed  his  eyes,  stopt  his  eares,  and  made 
him  loose  the  use  of  his  reason  and  all  his  other 
sences. 

"  Then  the  right  Duke,  who  had  put  himselfe  among 
the  throng  of  his  Officers  to  have  the  pleasure  of  this 
mummery,  commanded  that  this  sleeping  man  should 
be  stript  out  of  his  brave  cloathes,  and  cloathed  againe 
in  his  old  ragges,  and  so  sleeping  carried  and  layd 
in  the  same  place  where  he  was  taken  up  the  night 
before.  This  was  presently  done,  and  there  did  he 


174      Note-Book  and  Word- List  [EDWARDS  (RICHARD) 

snort  all  the  night  long,  not  taking  any  hurt  either 
from  the  hardnesse  of  the  stones  or  the  night  ayre,  so 
well  was  his  stomacke  filled  with  good  preservatives. 
Being  awakened  in  the  morning  by  some  passenger, 
or  it  may  bee  by  some  thaf  the  good  Duke  Philip  had 
thereto  appointed,  ha !  said  he,  my  friends,  what 
have  you  done?  you  have  rob'd  mee  of  a  Kingdome, 
and  have  taken  mee  out  of  the  sweetest  and  happiest 
dreame  that  ever  man  could  have  fallen  into.  Then, 
very  well  remembring  all  the  particulars  of  what  had 
passed  the  day  before,  he  related  unto  them,  from 
point  to  point,  all  that  had  happened  unto  him,  still 
thinking  it  assuredly  to  bee  a  dreame.  Being  re 
turned  home  to  his  house,  hee  entertaines  his  wife, 
neighbours,  and  friends,  with  this  his  dreame,  as  hee 
thought  :  the  truth  whereof  being  at  last  published  by 
the  mouthes  of  those  Courtiers  who  had  been  present 
at  this  pleasant  recreation,  the  good  man  could  not 
beleeve  it,  thinking  that  for  sport  they  had  framed 
this  history  upon  his  dreame  ;  but  when  Duke  Philip, 
who  would  have  the  full  contentment  of  this  pleasant 
tricke,  had  shewed  him  the  bed  wherein  he  lay,  the 
cloathes  which  he  had  worne,  the  persons  who  had 
served  him,  the  Hall  wherein  he  had  eaten,  the 
gardens  and  galleries  wherein  hee  had  walked,  hardly 
could  hee  be  induced  to  beleeve  what  hee  saw, 
imagining  that  all  this  was  meere  inchantment  and 
illusion. 

"  The  Duke  used  some  liberality  towards  him  for 
to  helpe  him  in  the  poverty  of  his  family  ;  and,  taking 
an  occasion  thereon  to  make  an  Oration  unto  his 
Courtiers  concerning  the  vanity  of  this  worlds  honours, 
hee  told  them  that  all  that  ambitious  persons  seeke 
with  so  much  industry  is  but  smoake,  and  a  meere 
dreame,  and  that  they  are  strucken  with  that  pleasant 
folly  of  the  Athenian,  who  imagined  all  the  riches 
that  arrived  by  shipping  in  the  haven  of  Athens  to 
be  his,  and  that  all  the  Marchants  were  but  his 
factors  :  his  friends  getting  him  cured  by  a  skilfull 
Physitian  of  the  debility  of  his  brain,  in  lieu  of  giving 
them  thanks  for  this  good  office,  he  reviled  them, 
saying  that,  whereas  he  was  rich  in  conceit,  they 
had  by  this  cure  made  him  poore  and  miserable  in 
effect. 


EGAL,  EGALNESS]  Note-Book  and  Word-List  175 

"  Harpaste,  a  foole  that  Senecaes  wife  kept,  and 
whose  pleasant  imagination  this  grave  Phylosopher 
doth  largely  relate,  being  growne  blind,  could  not 
perswade  herselfe  that  she  was  so,  but  continually  com 
plained  that  the  house  wherein  she  dwelt  was  dark, 
that  they  would  not  open  the  windowes,  and  that 
they  hindred  her  from  setting  light,  to  make  her  be- 
leeve  she  could  see  nothing  :  hereupon  this  great 
Stoick  makes  this  fine  consideration,  that  every 
vitious  man  is  like  unto  this  foole,  who,  although  he 
be  blind  in  his  passion,  yet  thinks  not  himselfe  to  be 
so,  casting  all  his  defect  on  false  surmises,  whereby 
he  seeks  not  only  to  have  his  sinne  worthy  of  excuse 
and  pardon,  but  even  of  praise  :  the  same  say  the 
covetous,  ambitious,  and  voluptuous  persons,  in  de 
fence  of  their  imperfections  ;  but  in  fine  (as  the  Psalm 
ist  saith),  all  that  must  passe  away,  and  the  images 
thereof  come  to  nothing,  as  the  dreame  of  him  that 
awaketh  from  sleepe. 

"  If  a  bucket  of  water  be  as  truly  water,  as  all  the 
sea,  the  difference  only  remaining  in  the  quantity,  not 
in  the  quality,  why  shall  we  not  say,  that  our  poore 
Braba.nder  was  a  Soveraigne  Prince  for  the  space 
of  fowre  and  twenty  houres,  being  that  he  received 
all  the  honours  and  commodities  thereof  :  how  many 
Kings  and  Popes  have  not  lasted  longer,  but  have  dyed 
on  the  very  day  of  their  Elections  or  Coronations? 
As  for  those  other  pompes,  which  have  lasted  longer, 
what  are  they  else  but  longer  dreames?  This  vanity 
of  worldly  things  is  a  great  sting  to  a  well  composed 
soule,  to  helpe  it  forward  towards  the  heavenly  king- 
dome." 

Contemporary  mention  of  Edwards  is  invariably  in 
terms  of  high,  and  sometimes  what  would  now  be 
regarded  as  extravagant,  praise.  I  conclude  with  a 
selection  of  references  to  such  eulogies  : — Turberville 
(1567),  Works  [Chalmers,  ii.  651];  Twine  (1567),  in 
Turberville 's  Works  [Chalmers,  ii.  620];  Webbe,  Dis 
course  of  English  Poetry  (1586) ;  Puttenham,  Art  of 
English  Poesy  (1589) ;  Meres,  Palladis  Tamia  (1598). 
EGAL,  EGALNESS  (G.  936  ;  976,  c,  d),  equal,  equality  : 
from  the  Fr.  "  Whose  souls  do  bear  an  egal  yoke  of 
love." — Shakspeare,  Merchant  of  Venice  (1598),  iii.  4. 


176  Note-Book  and  Word-List  [ERST 

ERST,  "  erst  to  use  "  (920),  first  :  the  superlative  of  cer  = 
soon. 

FACSIMILES.  A  reduced  facsimile  of  the  title-page  of  the 
edition  of  Damon  and  Pithias,  published  1571,  appears 
on  page  i  ;  and  of  the  title-page  of  the  first  edition 
of  Gorboduc  facing  p.  85  ;  also  of  Ed  wards 's  Paradise 
of  Dainty  Devices,  p.  187. 

FACT,  "  enemies  that  will  withstand  my  fact  herein  " 
(G.  144^),  deed,  act,  performance,  anything  done ; 
now  archaic. 

FAINTED,  "  In  mutual  friendship  at  no  time  have 
fainted  "  (D.  140),  lost  strength,  weakened. 

FAME,  "  louting  out  the  fame  "  (G.  g6c),  fame  is  a  mis 
print  for  same. 

FERREX  AND  PORREX,  see  Gorboduc. 

FILED,  "  thy  filed  tongue  "  (D.  82??),  properly  polished, 
refined:  hence  unctuous,  honeyed,  parasitical.  "So 
it  will  seem  to  all  that  hear's  unless  you  do  it  file."- 
Misogonus  (c.  1560),  Prol.  (E.E.D.S.,  Anon.  PL  Ser. 
2,  i35<i).  "  The  sly  deceiver,  Cupid,  thus  beguil'd  The 
simple  damsel  with  his  filed  tongue." — Fairfax,  Tasso 
(1600),  vi.  73. 

FILLING  ALE,  "fetch  him  his  filling  ale"  (0.560), 
?  thilling  ale  =  carting  ale  :  i.e.  ale  given  as  an  extra, 
11  a  drink."  Thills  =  the  shafts  of  a  cart  or  waggon; 
and  fill-horse  =  draught  horse. 

FLAT,  "  we  do  protest  this  flat  "  (D.  50),  plainly, 
straightforwardly  :  see  i  Henry  IV.  i.  3. 

FOND,  FONDLY,  FONDNESS,  "  very  fondly  ...  he  viewed 
this  city  "  (D.  33^) — "  No  fondness  at  all  but  perfect 
amity  "  (D.  qia  :  see  also  40^) — "  when  in  fond 
princes'  hearts  Flattery  prevails  "  (G.  iS2a),  foolish, 
stupidly,  folly.  "  He  that  is  young  thinketh  the  olde 
man  fond;  and  the  olde  knoweth  the  young  man  to 
be  a  foole. "— Lyly,  Euph.  and  his  Eng.  (1580),  p.  9. 
"  Fondness  it  were  for  any,  being  free,  To  covet 
fetters,  tho'  they  golden  be." — Spenser,  Sonnet 
(1592-3).  37- 


GORBODUC]      Note-Book  and  Word- List  177 

FORESET,  "  When  kings  of  foreset  will  neglect  " 
(G.  lisa),  pre-ordainment,  a  setting  out  beforehand. 
"  In  th'  heaven's  universal  alphabet  All  earthly  things 
so  surely  are  foreset." — Bp.  Hall,  Virgidemiarum 
(1599),  bk.  ii.,  sat.  7. 

Fox,  "  I  will  fox  you  "  (D.  52*:),  it  is  uncertain  whether 
fox  here  =  to  fight  with  a  sword  (colloquially  called  a 
"fox  "  :  see  Henry  V.  iv.  4),  to  deceive  or  cheat, 
or  to  stupefy  with  drink. 

FRANION,  "  my  franion  "  (D.  45^),  boon  companion  :  a 
generic  term  for  loose-livers — gay  idler,  paramour, 
mistress,  tippler ;  thought  to  be  from  Fr.  faine'ant. 
"  Might  not  be  found  a  francker  franion,  Of  her 
leawd  parts  to  make  companion." — Spenser,  Fairy 
Queen  (1590),  II.  ii.  37.  "  As  for  this  ladie  which  he 
sheweth  here,  Is  not,  I  wager,  Florimell  at  all,  But 
some  fayre  franion,  fit  for  such  a  fere." — Ibid,  (1596), 
V.  iii.  22. 

GOD'S  AYMES  (D.  620),  God's  arms. 

GORBODUC  (or  FERREX  AND  PORREX).  The  text  is  from 
a  copy  of  the  edition  of  1570-1,  now  in  the  British 
Museum.  The  spelling  is  modernised  (save  in  such 
exceptional  cases  as  are  provided  for  in  the  general 
scheme  of  this  series),  and  the  punctuation  is  modified 
only  so  far  as  to  render  the  sense  clear  to  modern 
readers.  A  previous  edition  appeared  in  1565 ;  but 
this  appears  to  have  been  unauthorised  and  surrepti 
tious.  The  facts  are  set  out  by  "  the  p[ublisher]  to 
the  reader  "  (see  pp.  86-7),  the  W.  G.  alluded  to  being 
William  Griffith,  the  publisher  of  the  "  first  "  edition. 
Another  edition  appeared  in  1590.  As  that  of  1570-1 
was  authorised  I  have  not  thought  it  necessary  to 
collate  it  with  the  stolen  text  of  1565.  Gorboduc  (or 
rather  Ferrex  and  Porrex,  as  the  authors  named  it) 
has  been  reprinted  (a)  in  Sackville's  Works  (ed.  West) ; 
(b)  in  Norton's  Works,  1570;  (c)  by  Spence  in  1736; 
(d)  in  Hawkins's  Orig.  Eng.  Drama,  1773,  vol.  ii.  ;  (e) 
in  Dodsley's  Collection  of  Old  Plays,  1744,  vol.  ii.  ; 
(/)  ibid.,  1780  (ed.  Reed),  vol.  i.  ;  (g)  ibid.,  1825-7  (ed. 
Collier),  vol.  i.  ;  (h)  in  Ancient  British  Drama,  1810 
(ed.  Sir  Walter  Scott),  vol.  i.  ;  and  (»)  by  the  Shak- 
speare  Society,  1847  (ed.  W.  D.  Cooper).  A  facsimile 
ED.  N 


178  Note-Book  and  Word-List      [GORBODUC 

title-page  of  the  edition  of  1565  forms  a  frontispiece  to 
this  volume.  Ferrex  and  Porrex  is  the  first  regular 
English  historical  tragedy  ;  and  it  is  also  the  first  of 
our  old  plays  that  was  written  in  blank  verse.  It  was 
the  joint  production  of  two  gentlemen  of  the  Inner 
Temple,  Thomas  Sackville  (afterwards  Lord  Buckhurst 
and  the  Earl  of  Dorset)  and  Thomas  Norton.  Nor 
ton's  share  is  now  generally  considered  to  have  been 
limited  to  the  arrangement  of  the  dumb  shows  preced 
ing  each  act — "  the  shadows  of  coming  events."  Still 
Cooper,  the  editor  of  the  Shakspeare  Society  edition  of 
the  play,  emphatically  declares  his  opinion  to  be  that 
Norton  "  had  undoubtedly  a  principal  hand  in  the 
execution."  Both  men,  as  previously  stated,  wete 
members  of  the  Inner  Temple,  and  wrote  the  tragedy 
specially  for  presentation  on  the  New  Year's  banquet 
ing  night  of  the  Christmas  revels  of  1561-2 — "  a  grand 
Christmas  "  with  elaborate  "  festivities  and  junket 
ings,"  of  which  this  dramatic  representation  was  the 
climax.  It  was  subsequently  performed  by  the  gentle 
men  of  the  Inner  Temple  before  Queen  Elizabeth  at 
Whitehall,  18  Jan.  1561.  The  "  story,"  which  is 
drawn  from  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth's  Historia  Regum 
Britannia,  is  told  by  the  authors  themselves  in  the 
"  arguments  "  before  each  act.  The  pivot  of  the 
play  is  the  evil  effects  of  national  dissension — a  timely 
and  topical  theme  at  the  period  of  writing  :  the  pro 
tracted  conflict  between  the  two  great  religious  sec 
tions  of  the  State,  Catholics  and  Reformers,  and  be 
tween  "  sectional  "  Protestants,  was  again  becoming 
acute.  The  first  pronouncement  on  the  play  was  a 
favourable  one,  and  the  estimate  then  formed  has 
been  confirmed  over  and  over  again  since  that  time  :  as 
witness  its  repeated  appearance  in  all  the  more  im 
portant  "  collections  "  of  our  early  drama.  Professor 
Schelling,  one  of  the  latest  to  deal  with  it,  concurs, 
and  says  (English  Chronicle  Plays,  pp.  19  and  272),  "  it 
is  impossible  to  overestimate  the  importance  of  the 
position  which  the  tragedy  Gorboduc  holds  at  the 
threshold  of  the  English  drama.  The  composition  of 
gentlemen  of  the  Inns  of  Court,  performed  before  the 
Queen,  and  following  in  the  wake  of  the  Continental 
imitations  of  Seneca,  this  play  is  none  the  less  of 
moment  for  the  effect  which  it  was  to  have  on  the 


GORBODUC]      Note-Book  and  Word- List  179 

popular  drama  to  come.  The  significance  of  this 
tragedy  in  its  choice  of  English  instead  of  the  learned 
tongue  in  which  such  performances  continued  often  to 
be  given,  in  its  use  of  blank  verse  in  place  of  the  usual 
riming  and  tumbling  measures,  and  in  its  substitution 
of  an  artistic  purpose  for  the  old  didactic  one,  is 
familiar  to  every  student  of  English  literature.  It  is 
the  selection  of  a  theme  from  English  historical  lore 
in  place  of  the  customary  moral,  biblical,  or  classical 
study  which  gives  to  Gorboduc  its  special  significance 
in  the  history  of  the  national  drama ;  and  this  im 
portance  is  not  in  the  least  diminished  by  the  likeli 
hood  that  Sackville  and  Norton  were  attracted  to  their 
subject  because  of  its  superficial  resemblance  to  the 
story  of  the  Thebais  of  Seneca  rather  than  through 
any  set  determination  to  levy  contribution  on  national 
sources  hitherto  untried.  Whatever  the  direct  impetus, 
Gorboduc  is  the  earliest  of  a  long  list  of  English 
dramas  which  laid  under  contribution  those  legendary 
and  pseudo-historical  materials  of  the  early  chronicles 
of  Britain  which  emanated  from  the  fertile  brain  of 
Geoffrey  of  Monmouth.  The  relation  of  the  earliest 
English  tragedy  to  the  English  Chronicle  play  is  suffi 
ciently  defined  in  the  recognition  of  this  fact."  Direct 
words  these,  and  emphatic  !  Lest,  however,  I  should 
be  misrepresenting  what  Prof.  Schelling  wished  to 
say,  or  omitting  any  point  germane  to,  or  qualifying, 
his  argument,  I  will  add  what,  if  not  a  modification 
of  the  foregoing,  is  at  any  rate  a  caution  to  the 
student.  In  the  summarised  conclusion  of  the  whole 
matter,  Prof.  Schelling  (p.  272)  writes  thus  :  "  That 
the  earliest  English  tragedy,  Gorboduc,  should  have 
drawn  on  a  subject  derived  from  English  mythological 
lore  is  a  circumstance  to  which  an  undue  significance 
may  be  readily  attached.  That  famous  play  with  its 
direct  follower,  The  Misfortunes  of  Arthur,  and  the 
Latin  Richardus  Tertius,  are  purely  Senecan  dramas, 
which,  departing  from  the  usual  classical  subjects  of 
their  type,  have  strayed  into  English  fields.  But  the 
choice  of  such  subjects,  however  accidental,  had  great 
effect  on  what  was  to  come."  The  imprint  of  the 
authorised  1570-1  edition  is  as  follows  :  "  Seen  and 
allowed.  Imprinted  at  London  by  John  Daye,  dwell 
ing  over  Aldersgate  [1570]." 

N    2 


i8o 


Note-Book  and  Word-List 


[GREE 


GREE,  "  if  they  gree  in  one  "  (G.  g6d),  agree.  "  And 
doe  not  see  how  much  they  must  defalke  Of  their 
accounts,  to  make  them  gree  with  ours." — Daniel, 
Philotas  (1597),  p.  195. 

GRIM  THE  COLLIER,  see  Anon.  Plays  (E.E.D  S  )  Ser  A 
Note-Book. 

GRIPE,  "  cruel  gripe  "  (G.  1066),  vulture,  griffin. 
"  Where  Titius  hath  his  lot  To  feed  the  gripe  that 
gnaws  his  growing  heart.  "—Tancred  and  Gism., 
Dodsley's  Old  Plays  (Reed),  ii.  196. 

GROAT,  "  who  can  sing  .  .  .  change  a  groat  "  (0.590), 
see  Hey  wood,  Works  (E.E.D.S.),  n.  tfa. 

GUERDON,  "  to  bear  such  guerdon  "  (G.  142^),  recom 
pense,  reward  :  here  retribution  for  evil.  "  And  I 
am  guerdon' d  at  the  last  with  shame." — Shakspeare, 
3  Henry  VI.  (1595),  iii.  3. 

HARECOP,  "  a  merry  harecop  "  (D.  586),  harebrain, 
"  giddykins. " 

HATEFUL,  "  the  hateful  gods  "  (G.  122^),  full  of  hatred, 
malevolent.  "  Hide  thee  from  their  hatefull  looks." 
— Shakspeare,  2  Henry  VI.  (1594),  ii.  4. 

HEAD,  "  My  neck  ...  in  striking  off  this  head  " 
(D.  78^),  honesty  =  fame,  good  reputation,  credit. 
"  Also  the  hangman  kneled  doune  to  him  askyng 
him  forgiuenes  of  his  death  (as  the  manner  Js),  to 
whom  he  sayd  I  forgeue  thee,  but  I  promise  thee  that 
thou  shall!  neuer  haue  honestie  of  the  strykyng  of 
my  head,  my  necke  is  so  short." — Speech  of  Sir  T. 
More  in  Hall,  Chronicle,  226. 

HEAPS,    see    Hugy. 

HESTS,  "your  noble  hests  "  (G.  H9&),  commands,  in 
junctions,  precepts. 

HOG'S  FLESH,  "  the  trimmest  hog's  flesh  from  London 
to  York  "  (D.  640),  there  would  seem  to  be  here  an 
allusion  to  the  quality  of  Yorkshire  produce,  still 
world-famous,  especially  in  respect  of  York  hams, 
&c. 

HONESTY,  see  Head. 


KING'S  LANGUAGE]  Note-Book  and  Word- List          181 

HORSE,  "  a  short  horse  is  soon  curried  "  (D.  2od), 
see  Heywood,  Works  (E.E.D.S.),  H.  236,  174*;. 

How,  see  Aloyse. 

HUGY,  "  hugy  frames  "  (G.  1260) — "  what  hugy  num 
ber  "  (G.  14 id) — "  hugy  heaps  of  these  unhaps  " 
(G.  148^),  vast,  great  :  note  the  alliteration  in  the 
last  example.  "  Your  three-fold  army  and  my  hugy 
host  Shall  swallow  up  these  base-born  Persians." — 
Marlowe,  i  Tamburlaine  (1590),  iii.  3. 

ICH    (passim),    I. 

IMPS,  "  such  imps  "  (D.  35^),  specifically  scions  of 
noble  houses :  here  such  as  would  form  part  of  a 
courtly  retinue  ;  or,  generally,  those  who  were  likely 
to  come  into  contact  with  a  king.  "  The  king  pre 
ferred  there  eighty  noble  imps  to  the  order  of  knight 
hood." — Stow,  Annals  (1592),  p.  385. 

JACK  FLETCHER,  "  as  like  in  condition  as  Jack  Fletcher 
and  his  bolt"  (0.96),  fletcher  =  arrow-maker  :  speci 
fically  the  workman  whose  part  was  to  put  on  the 
feathers. 

JACK-NAPES,  "if  you  play  Jack-napes"  (D.  5ic).  Dr. 
Murray  (O.E.D.)  says,  "  So  far  as  yet  found,  the 
word  appears  first  as  an  .opprobrious  nickname  of 
William  de  la  Pole,  Duke  of  Suffolk  (murdered 
1450),  whose  badge  was  a  clog  and  chain  such  as 
was  attached  to  a  tame  ape.  .  .  .  But  of  Jack  Nape 
or  Napes  and  its  relation  to  an  ape  or  apes  no  certain 
explanation  can  be  offered."  "  As  he  played  at  cards 
with  me  .  .  .  [he]  said  I  played  Jack  Napes  with 
him."— -Lett,  and  Papers  Henry  VIII.  (Rolls),  tf. 
222  (1534). 

JEBIT,  "  Jebit  avow  .  .  .  Zawne  "  (56^),  properly,  Je 
bois  a  vous  mon  compagnon  .  .  .  J'ai  vous  pleige, 
petit  Zawne  :  Zawne  =  zany. 

KING'S  LANGUAGE,  "  clip  the  King's  language  " 
(D.  57c),  King's  English.  "  Your  courteoures,  quha 
.  .  .  sum  tymes  spilt  (as  they  cal  it)  the  King's 
language."— A.  Hume,  Brit.  Tongue  (c.  1620), 
Ded.  2. 


1 82 


Note-Book  and  Word-List  [KING'S  MOUTH 


KING'S  MOUTH,  "  take  in  coals  for  the  King's  mouth  " 
(D.  53^),  i.e.  for  the  use  of  the  court:  mouth  =  an 
entrance  :  cf.  Bouge  of  Court.  "  This  is  the  mouth 
of  the  cell." — Shakspeare,  Tempest  (1609),  iv.  i. 

KNOT,  "  I  have  played  with  his  beard  in  knitting  this 
knot  "  (D.  ioa),  a  complication,  something  intricate, 
a  tangle,  difficulty,  or  knotty  question.  "  Unto 
hym  that  love  wole  flee,  The  knotte  maye  unclosed 
bee." — Rom.  Rose  (c.  1400),  4698. 

LENGTH,  "  shall  length  your  noble  life  "  (G.  960),  pro 
long,  lengthen.  "When  your  eyes  have  done  their 
part,  Thought  must  length  it  in  the  hart." — Daniel, 
Tethys  Fest.  (1610),  F  36. 

LET    (passim),    hinder,   hindrance. 

LIBERALITY,  "  in  thy  pleasant  liberality  "  (D.  8aa), 
freedom. 

LICENCE,  "  I  pray  you  licence  me  "  (D.  zid),  give  leave, 
permit,  authorise  :  see  Anon.  Plays  (E.E.D.S.),  Ser. 
2,  s.v.  License. 

LIKETH,  "  that  liketh  us  so  well  "  (G.  i43c),  pleaseth. 
"This  is  my  loved  sone  that  lyketh  me." — PUg. 
Sowle  (1413),  v.  xii.  103. 

LOBCOCK,  "  I  will  make  you  a  lobcock  "  (D.  57^),  lout, 
boor,  blundering  fool."  "  Seneca  and  Lucan  were 
lobcockes  to  choose  that  death." — Nashe,  Unf.  Trav. 
(iS94),  76. 

LONGS,  "  to  whom  the  sceptre  longs  "  (G.  1500),  is  ap 
propriate  to,  pertains  to.  "  Hym  lakked  nought  that 
longcth  to  a  kyng.  "—Chaucer,  Cant.  Tales  (1383), 
Sq.  Tale,  8. 

LOTTING,  "  lotting  out  the  same  "  (G.  g6c),  assign  in 
shares  or  portions,  divide.  "  At  last  they  fell  to  the 
custome  of  lotting  of  voyces  in  the  Conclaue." — 
Fenton,  Guicciard  (1579),  xiv.  (1599),  668. 

Lousious,  "  lousious  and  trim  "  (D.  560),   luscious. 

LUST,  "  your  lust  is  lost  "  (D.  36) — "  muse  he  that 
lust  "  (D.  30),  desire,  wish,  please. 

MAST,    "  mast   tipstaff"    (D.  66n),    master. 


NORTON  (THOMAS)]  Note-Book  and  Word- List         183 

MEVE,  "  his  suit  did  meve  "  (D.  ^oc),  move. 

MINION,  "  your  master  is  a  minion  "  (D.  izd),  a 
favourite.  "  Immortall  minions  in  their  Maker's 
sight." — Stirling,  Domes-day  (1614),  Twelfth  Howe. 

Mo  (passim),   more. 

MORGAN  (G.  96^),  Margan  who  was  killed  by  his  brother 
Cunedagius  :  see  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth,  n.  15. 

MOUTH,  (a)  "  to  make  up  my  mouth  "  (D.  276),  i.e. 
make  up  his  plunder,  booty. 

(b)  "I    will   lay   on   mouth   for   you  "  (D.  27^),   i.e. 
talk  about  you. 

(c)  see  King's  mouth. 

MUMBUDGET  (D.  25^),  silence  !  keep  quiet !  "I  come  to 
her  in  white,  and  cry  mum ;  and  she  cries  budget, 
and  by  that  we  know  one  another." — Shakspeare, 
Merry  W.  W.  (1596),  v.  2. 

MUSSELDEN    (D.  56^),    muscadine. 

NE  (passim),   nor. 

NEW  BROOM,  "  a  new  broom  sweeps  clean  "  (D.  loc), 
Hey  wood  has  "  the  green  new  broom  sweepeth  clean  " 
(Works,  E.E.D.S.,  n.  54a). 

NIP,  "  from  their  nips  shall  I  never  be  free  "  (D.  i$c), 
taunts,  scoffs. 

NOCENT,  "whom  the  king  judgeth  nocent  "  (0.340), 
guilty,  criminal,  mischievous.  "  Nocent,  not  innocent 
he  is  that  seeketh  to  deface,  By  word  the  thing,  that 
he  by  deed  had  taught  men  to  imbrace." — Fox, 
Martyrs  (1563),  p.  231,  col.  2. 

NODDY,  "  I  will  not  call  you  noddy  "  (D.  6d),  fool,  sim 
pleton.  "  As  we  find  of  Irus  the  begger,  and  Thersites 
the  glorious  noddie,  whom  Homer  makes  mention  of." 
— Puttenham,  Art  of  Poesy  (1589),  B.  i.  ch.  20. 

NORTON  (THOMAS),  joint  author  with  Thomas  Sack- 
ville  (afterwards  Lord  Buckhurst)  of  Ferrex  and 
Porrex,  was  a  Bedfordshire  man,  born  in  1532,  at 
Streatley,  about  six  miles  from  Luton.  Wood  de 
scribes  him  in  after  life  as  "a  forward  and  busy 
Calvinist  and  noted  zealot";  and  Strype  as  "a 
minister  of  good  parts  and  learning."  His  learning 


1 84  Note-Book  and  Word-List  [ON 

was  undoubted,  but  where  he  obtained  it  is  not  re 
corded,  though  he  was  only  eighteen  when  he  published 
his  first  work,  a  translation  of  Peter  Martyr's  letter 
to  the  Protector  Somerset,  from  whom,  while  he  lived, 
Norton  had  substantial  patronage.  After  Somerset's 
death,  Norton  entered  himself  as  a  student  of  the 
Inner  Temple  (1555),  and  subsequently  rose  to  con 
siderable  eminence  and  wealth  in  his  profession.  He 
found  time,  nevertheless,  for  a  large  amount  of  polemi 
cal  writing.  In  1565  he  entered  himself  at  Pembroke 
Hall,  Oxford,  taking  his  degree  of  M.A.  in  1569.  He 
was  in  residence  here  when  the  first  and  surreptitious 
edition  of  ¥  err  ex  and  Porrex  appeared.  Somewhat 
earlier  (1561  to  1584)  he  held  office  as  counsel  to  the 
Stationers'  Company,  and  became  also  a  licenser  of 
books,  proving  himself  very  zealous  in  the  enforcement 
of  penalties  against  contumacious  printers.  Norton 
was  a  man  of  rigidly  extreme  views,  and  in  religious 
matters  puritanical  to  a  degree.  He  died  in  1584. 
[A  full  and  exhaustive  memoir  by  Mr.  W.  D.  Cooper 
appears  in  the  Shakspeare  Society's  edition  of  Gorbo- 
duc,  with  copious  extracts  and  copies  of  documentary 
evidence  of  every  description.] 

ON,  "  a  cup  to  drink  on  "  (D.  566),  from.  "  But 
what  art  thou  That  hast  this  Fortune  dn  me." — 
Shakspeare,  Lear  (1605),  v.  3.  165. 

PALAMON  AND  ARCYTE.  This  lost  play  of  Richard  Ed 
wards,  in  two  parts,  is  known  chiefly  through  Stow's 
Chronicle  and  Anthony  Wood's  account  of  a  mishap. 
It  appears  that  in  1566  Edwards  accompanied  Queen 
Elizabeth  to  Oxford,  and  while  there  this  play  was 
acted  before  her  in  Christ  Church  Hall  on  the  2nd  and 
3rd  September.  Stow  says,  "  It  had  such  tragical 
success  as  was  very  lamentable  ;  for  at  that  time  by 
the  fall  of  a  wall  and  a  pair  of  stairs  and  great  press 
of  the  multitude  three  men  were  slain."  Wood  is 
more  explicit.  He  says  :  "  At  night,  September  2nd, 
the  Queen  heard  the  first  part  of  an  English  play, 
named  Palamon  and  Arcyte,  made  by  M.  Richard 
Edwards,  a  gentleman  of  her  Chapel,  acted  with  very 
great  applause,  in  Christ  Church  Hall,  at  the  begin 
ning  of  which  play,  there  was,  by  part  of  the  stage 


PARADISE,  &c.]   Note- Book  and  Word-List  185 

which  fell,  three  persons  slain,  besides  five  that  were 
hurt.  Afterwards  the  actors  performed  their  parts  so 
well,  that  the  Queen  laughed  heartily  thereat,  and 
gave  the  author  of  the  play  great  thanks  for  his 
pains."  Peshall,  in  his  History  of  the  University,  im 
plies  that  the  Queen  was  not  actually  present  when 
the  accident  occurred,  and  probably  she  was  kept  in 
ignorance  of  the  fatality.  Anthony  Wood  also  men 
tions  some  of  the  characters — "  Palamon,  Arcite, 
Pirithous,  Trecotio,  Emilia."  The  part  of  Emilia  was 
played  by  a  handsome  youth  of  about  fourteen  years 
old,  and  he  contrived  to  obtain  possession  of  some 
part  of  the  dress  of  her  Majesty's  late  sister  and  pre 
decessor,  Queen  Mary.  The  Queen  was  so  pleased 
with  the  performance  of  the  part  that  in  token  of  her 
approbation  she  presented  him  with  gold  pieces  to  the 
value  of  eight  pounds.  There  are  also  other  minor 
contemporary  references  to  this  play,  now  unfortunately 
no  longer  available.  The  story  is  that  of  Chaucer's 
Knight's  Tale  (probably  Edwards 's  source),  and  Shak- 
speare  and  Fletcher  selected  the  same  subject  in  The 
Two  Noble  Kinsmen.  In  1594  Henslowe  is  recorded 
to  have  bought  a  book  of  Palamon  and  Arsett :  this 
also  has  been  lost. 

PALLARRIME  (D.  620),  Palermo,  once  as  famous  for  its 
razors  as  was  Toledo  for  its  blades.  "  Neighbour, 
sharpen  the  edge  tole  of  your  wits  upon  the  whet 
stone  of  indiscretion,  that  your  wordes  may  shine 
like  the  rasers  of  Palermo." — Lodge,  Wounds  of  Civil 
War  (1594). 

PANTACLE  (D.  51*:),  a  corrupt  form  of  pantofle,  slipper. 

PARADISE  OF  DAINTY  DEVICES  (THE).  A  collection  of 
poems  intended,  for  the  most  part,  for  musical  setting 
was  published  in  1576,  ten  years  after  the  death  of 
the  compiler,  Master  Richard  Edwards  (q.v.),  the 
author  of  Damon  and  Pithias  (q.v.),  Palamon  and 
Arcyte  (q.v.),  and  other  works.  He  was  himself 
a  contributor  of  a  not  inconsiderable  number  of  items. 
The  book  ran  through  many  editions,  copies  of  any 
of  which  are  of  the  utmost  rarity.  Other  particulars 
concerning  the  work  will  be  found  s.v.  "  Edwards," 
ante.  In  the  British  Museum  (1087,  f.  7)  is  in 
cluded,  in  the  3rd  volume  of  The  British  Biblio- 


1 86 


Note- Book  and  Word-List 


[PATIENT 


grapher,  a  reprint  of  the  1576  edition  of  The  Paradise 
of  Dainty  Devices,  edited  by  Sir  Egerton  Brydges, 
and  published  in  1810.  The  "  advertisement  "  states 
that  it  had  been  printed  literatim  "  from  a  copy  be 
longing  to  the  Editor,  made  by  the  hand  of  the  late 
eminent  George  Steevens."  The  pages  of  the  original 
are  imperfectly  numbered,  and  this  peculiarity  has 
been  retained  in  this  reprint.  The  ancient  orthography 
has  also  been  retained,  but  the  punctuation  altered 
where  the  old  punctualion  seemed  to  destroy  the  sense. 
The  1596  ed.  is  the  earliest  one  in  the  B.M.  Col 
lier's  edition  (B.M.  2326,  c.  7,  published  later)  exactly 
follows  the  1576  edition. 

PATIENT,  "  patient  your  grace  "  (G.  1340),  show  patience, 
be  patient.  "  Patient  yourself,  Madam,  and  pardon 
me." — Shakspeare,  Tit.  Andr.  (1588),  i.  i.  121. 

'PEASE,  "  and  'pease  the  hateful  gods  "  (G.  122^),  ap 
pease. 

PENNYWORTHS,  "  I  will  have  my  pennyworths  of  thee  " 
(0.456),  aright  equivalent,  what's  owing  and  more, 
one's  money's  worth.  "  If  you  deny  me  this  request 
I  will  .  .  .  haue  my  peniworths  of  them  for  it."— 
Marpr.  Epist.  (1588),  27  (Arber). 

PESTENS,  "  'tis  a  pestens  quean  "  (D.  63^),  pestilent. 

PESTLE  OF  PORK  (D.  640.),  gammon  of  bacon:  pestle  — 
leg.  "  You  shall  as  commonly  see  legges  of  men 
hang  up,  as  here  with  us  you  shall  find  pestels  of 
porke,  or  legges  of  veale." — Healy,  Disc,  of  a  New 
World  (c.  1610),  p.  161. 

PIKE,   "pike,   rise,   and  walk"  (D.  216),   pick. 

PITCHER,  "  The  pitcher  goeth  so  long  to  the  water  that 
he  cometh  home  broken  "  (D.  nc),  see  Heywood, 
Works  (E.E.D.S.),  n.  82&,  425(1. 

PLOT,  "  a  trimmer  plot  I  have  not  seen  "  (D.  22c),  the 
"  view  "  as  laid  out  before  the  speaker  :  usually  of  a 
small  piece  of  ground,  a  plat. 

POUCH'D,  "  cha  pouch'd  them  up  already  "  (D.  276), 
pocketed.  "  In  January  fcmsband  that  poucheth  the 
grotes,  Will  break  up  his  lay,  or  be  sowing  of  otes." 
— Tusser,  Husbandrie  (1557). 


[Reduced  Facsimile  of  the   Title-page  of  "The  Paradise 

of  Dainty  Devices"  from  a  Copy  of  the  edition  of  1596, 

now  in  the  British  Museum.] 


i88  Note-Book  and  Word-List  [PREASE 

PREASE,  "  stand  close  in  the  prease  "  (D.  35a),  crowd  : 
see  other  volumes  of  this  series. 

PRESENTLY,  "  let  us  presently  depart  "  (G.  143??),  at 
once:  cf.  by  and  by  —  immediately.  "Presently?  Ay, 
with  a  twink." — Shakspeare,  Tempest  (1609),  iv. 

PRETENDED,  "the  great  pretended  wrong"  (G.  n8d), 
intended.  "  Perill  by  this  salvage  man  pretended." 
— Spenser,  Fairy  Queen  (1596),  VI.  v.  10. 

PRICKETH,  "  it  pricketh  fast  upon  noon  "  (D.  736), 
prick  =  to  ride  rapidly. 

PROTRACT,  "  without  protract  "  (G.  1320),  delay.  "  With 
out  further  protract  and  dilation  of  time." — Wyatt, 
Works;  Henry  VIII.  to  Wyatt  (an.  1529). 

QUIDDLE,  "  we  will  quiddle  upon  it  "  (D.  636),  to  talk, 
act,  or  treat  triflingly  :  cf.  twiddle,  quibble,  piddle. 
"  I  doubt  not  but  manie  will  quiddle  therevpon." — 
Fleming,  Contn.  Holinshed  (1587),  in.  1275,  2. 

QUINCH,  "  I  care  not  a  quinch  "  (D.  i6a),  not  even  a 
start:  from  verb  =  start,  flinch,  stir,  move. 

RANDON,  "  left  to  randon  "  (G.  114^),  to  fly  at  random, 
go  without  restraint. 

REDE,    "neglect   the   rede"   (G.  u$b),   counsel. 

REGALS  (D.  3oa),  "  a  small  portable  organ  formerly  in 
use,  having  one,  or  sometimes  two,  sets  of  reed-pipes 
played  with  keys  with  the  right  hand,  while  a  small 
bellows  was  worked  by  the  left  hand  .  .  .  (common 
c.  1550-1625)."  (O.E.D.) 

ROASTS,  see  Rules. 

ROBIN  RUDDOCKS  (D.  550),  robin  redbreasts. 

ROISTER  (D.  3^),  swaggerer,  bully,  rioter. 

RUG,  "  seven  ells  of  rug  "  (D.  556),  a  play  on  "  rogue." 

RULES,  "  rules  the  roasts  "  (D.  i3a),  takes  the  lead. 
"  Jhon,  duke  of  Burgoyn,  which  ruled  the  rost,  and 
governed  both  kyng  Charles  the  Frenche  kyng,  and  his 
whole  realme." — Hall,  Union  (1548),  Henry  IV.  f.  30. 


SORT]  Note-Book  and  Word-List  189 

SACKVILLE  (THOMAS,  afterwards  Lord  Buckhurst,  and 
Earl  of  Dorset)  was  born  in  1536  at  Withyham,  in 
Sussex,  and  died  suddenly  at  a  council  meeting  in 
Whitehall  in  1608.  Being  of  kin  to  Queen  Anne 
Bulleyne,  he  was,  in  his  younger  years,  brought  into 
contact  with  Elizabeth.  Educated  at  Oxford  and  Cam 
bridge,  he  took  his  M.A.  degree  at  the  fen  city.  He 
proceeded  to  the  Inner  Temple  as  a  student,  and 
subsequently  became  a  barrister,  but  in  all  probability 
never  practised  at  the  Bar.  It  was,  however,  during 
his  legal  career  that  he  met  Norton — one  result  of 
which  was  the  joint  production  of  the  first  historical 
English  tragedy.  Thenceforth  his  career  was  chiefly 
political,  and  so  continued  to  the  hour  of  his  some 
what  tragic  death.  Reckless  and  extravagant  in  his 
earlier  years,  the  Queen  seems  to  have  "  pulled  him 
up  "  by  declaring  that,  despite  her  past  favours,  she 
would  "  know  him  no  more  till  he  knew  himself." 
He  determined  to  reform ;  and,  to  cut  himself  adrift 
from  old  associations,  and  become  "  a  thrifty  im 
prover  of  his  estate,"  he  went  on  a  Continental  tour; 
this  was  the  "  absence  "  alluded  to  in  the  "  Publisher 
to  the  Reader  "  (p.  86).  He  returned  in  1566,  on  the 
death  of  his  father,  and  was  in  1567  completely  rein 
stated  in  the  royal  favour.  [For  exhaustive  memoir 
see  Shakspeare  Society's  edition  of  Gorboduc.] 

SEAT,  "  this  is  a  pleasant  city,  The  seat  is  good  " 
(D.  226),  site,  position,  situation.  "  This  castle  hath 
a  pleasant  seat." — Shakspeare,  Macbeth  (1606),  i.  6. 

SHARP,  "doth  sharp  the  courage"  (G.  97^),  quicken, 
make  keen,  sharpen.  "  To  sharpe  my  sence." — 
Spenser,  To  the  Ladies  of  the  Court. 

SHORT  HORSE,  "  a  short  horse  soon  curried  "  (D.  20^), 
see  Heywood,  Works  (E.E.D.S.),  n.  236,  1740. 

SITH  (passim),   since. 

SORT,  "  the  unchosen  and  unarmed  sort  "  (G.  1426), 
company,  multitude.  "  Cyaxares — kept  a  sort  of 
Scytmans  with  him,  only  for  thus  purpose,  to  teach 
his  son  Astyages  to  shoote."— Ascham,  Toxoph.  (1544). 
p.  14. 


igo  Note-Book  and  Word-List  [SQUARE 

SQUARE,  "  out  of  square  "  (D,  5ia),  uneasy,  troubled  : 
see  other  volumes  of  this  series. 

SQUIRRILITY,  "servile  squirrility  "  (D.  6d) — "fountains 
of  squirrility  "  (D.  460!),  scurrility. 

STERN,  "  a  ship  without  a  stern  "  (G.  itfc),  rudder. 
"  And  how  he  lost  his  steresman,  Which  that  the 
sterne,  or  he  tooke  keepe  Smote  ouer  the  bord  as  he 
sleepe. " — Chaucer,  Hous  of  Fame,  ii. 

SWAP,  "  chill  swap't  off  by  and  by  "  (D.  560),  i.e.  toss 
it  off,  gulp  it  down. 

THANK,  "  ken  [or  con]  me  thank  "  (D.  46*;),  see  other 
volumes  of  this  series. 

THIK,  "  a  murrain  take  thik  wine  "  (D.  57^),  this  :  a 
dialectical  form. 

THRUST,  "  you  thrust  my  guiltless  blood  to  have  " 
(D.  39&),  thirst :  Chaucer  uses  this  form  (Nares). 

TOOTH  AND  NAIL,  "  assuring  .  .  .  both  with  tooth  and 
nail  "  (D.  86),  in  earnest,  to  the  utmost.  "  Fight 
with  toothe  and  nayle." — Jyl  of  Brentford's  Testa 
ment  (1550),  23  (Furnivall). 

TORUP,  "  torup  men  for  every  trifle  "  (D.  570),  probably 
Grim's  bemused  way  of  saying  interrupt. 

TOYS  (passim),  trifles,  whims,  fancies,  conceits :  see 
Slang  and  Its  Analogues,  s.v.  Toy. 

TWAY,  "  tway  hours  "  (D.  530),  two. 

TWICH-BOX  (D.  5 id),  for  touch-box  :  "  a  receptacle  for 
lighted  tinder  carried  by  soldiers  for  matchlocks  " 
(Halliwell).  "  When  she  his  flask  and  touch-box  set 
on  fire." — Letting  of  Humours,  &c.  (1600). 

TWINK,  "  with  a  twink  "  (G.  134^),  twinkle. 


UNHAPS,  "  the  hugy  heaps  of  these  unhaps  "  (G.  1486), 
misfortunes. 

URE,  "  brought  in  ure  of  skilful  stayedness  "  (G. 
use,  practice  :   see  other  volumes  of  this  series. 


ZONAM]  Note-Book  and  Word-List  191 

VAIN,   "  chuld  vain  learn  that"  (D.  6ib),  fain. 
VARIORUM  READINGS,  see  Damon  and  Pithias. 

VARLET,  "  varlet  dyed  in  grain"  (D.  gc),  a  rogue  in 
deed:  cf.  "Knave  in  grain."  A  parallel  passage 
occurs  in  Fulwell's  Like  Will  to  Like  (E.E.D.S.), 
2oa  :  "  There  thou  mayst  be  called  a  knave  in  grane, 
And  where  knaves  be  scant  thou  mayst  go  for 
twayne." 

VINTRY,  "  Three  Cranes  of  the  Vintry  "  (D.  68c),  or 
New  Queen  Street.  Dekker  (Belman  of  London,  £2) 
mentions  it  as  a  rendezvous  for  beggars.  "  From 
thence  shoot  the  bridge  child,  to  the  Cranes  of  the 
Vintry,  And  see  there  the  gimblets  how  they  make 
their  entry  !  " — Tonson,  Devil  is  an  Ass  (1616),  i.  i. 

VOR,   for  :   see  Cha. 

VORTY  (D.  540),    forty  :   see   Cha. 

Vox  (D.  586),  fox  :  see  Cha. 

WASHING-BALL  (D.  626),  a  kind  of  cosmetic  used  in 
washing  the  face  (Halliwell). 

WATER,    (a)    "  a    pot   with    -water  "    (D.  616),    wine    is 
meant. 
(&)  see  Pitcher. 

WATER-BOUGETS  (550),  vessels  anciently  used  by  soldiers 
for  carrying  water  in  long  marches  and  across  deserts  ; 
and  also  by  water-carriers  to  convey  water  from  the 
conduits  to  the  houses  of  the . .citizens. 

YORK,   see  Hog's  flesh. 

ZONAM,  see  Variorum  Readings  to  Damon  and  Pithias. 


K.  CLAY  AND  SONS,  LTD.,  BREAD  ST.  HILL,  E.G.,  AND  BUNGAY,  SUFFOLK 


VV*' 


IS     a 


PR  Edwards,  Richard 

2499       The  dramatic  writings  of 

E^Al  Richard  Edwards 

1906 


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